It's been a while since I did part one to proactive parenting (see the archives from this month). I recently read an e-mail on an e-mail group I'm on and they were talking about training our kids proactively. The basic idea is that you diliberately set up situations throughout the day to practice training. So if you're working on obedience, throughout the day you can deliberately have the kids practice obeying you at times when it isn't critical. For example, you might tell your son, "Johnny" and have him say "what mommy", and then ask him, "Please jump up and down 3x" and have him say "ok mommy" and then do it. You can practice silly things, or not silly things like having them pick up one misplaced thing. But do it regularly throughout the day. If they don't do it obediently, be prepared to discipline every time it's done incorrectly.
There are many different areas you can parent proactively in this way. You can practice self-control by placing something by someone that they would want to touch or take and tell them not to touch it. Put a cookie on the table and tell them not to touch it etc... You can train quiet in this way. One thing I've done a little of but not enough to have my kids good at it yet, is to train my kids to stop when I say stop. My goal is that when I say stop, they would stop, turn and look at me, and fold their hands. I need to work more on this one, but throughout the day you can randomly say, "stop" to them and work on this response.
If only I could be more dilligent in this kind of training! I need to work on this much more. I'm grateful for this post on my other e-mail list for this great reminder of how to train up my children dilligently each day! |
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• Tue 29 May 2007 - Untitled Comment
Blessings,
Tiany