Most behaviors have something that happensBEFORE the actual "behavior." For example, your child may start to cry BEFORE they throw something.



What does this mean for you? You can act in response to the smaller behavior to correct the course before the larger behavior takes place. For example, prompt for communication as to what they need and listen to it. Correcting the problem immediately instead of waiting till the situation escalates can help teach your child how to recognize their own stress signs and regulate themselves as well.

Praise Ratio

In addition to catching behaviors at the start, there is yet another preventative measure you can take. If the behaviors likely stem from wanting attention, give them attention BEFORE the behavior. Oftentimes as parents, you can get in the habit of not giving much attention when the kiddo is acting properly and saving your energy and reactions for when the child acts out. However, it's been proven that the ratio for praise to demands should be 4:1, meaning 4x the amount of praise than demands should be given. By giving praise abundantly, your child may not feel the need to rely on the negative attention received from acting out.