TIPS
Set A Good Example

Lynne Osborn, Extension Educator
University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension
A good guidance principle to help parents interact with their children is: Set a good example.

Speak and act only in the ways you want your child to speak and act. Parents need to be positive role models for children. Correct the following parental responses: (the first one is done for you)

Knee-jerk Response Better Response
"Shut up and get out of here." We are trying to talk. You may stay in the room with us and not interrupt until we are finished or you may leave the room.
"You'll eat every bit of that broccoli even if it means you have to sit at the table all night."
"Laura, if you bite your sister, I'll bite you."
"If you don't stop that crying, Brian, I'll give you something to cry about!"

This week try to eliminate those knee-jerk responses and use more positive ones.

When you have completed the exercise, and practiced using positive responses, remember to call Dundy County University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension at 423-2021 or 800 485-0219 or e-mail losborn1@unl.edu and let us know how your positive responses worked.

Source: Parenting Your Child Effectively by Marilyn Fox, Extension Educator, University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension
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