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ADHD
Is Ritalin the Only Way?
By Julia Rosien
Teachers and parents can use charting to help a child set standards for his behavior. A chart taped in a prominent spot helps a child to see how he behaves.
"Reinforce swear-free periods, for example, by having him predict how long he can go without swearing," Schultz says. "Prediction involves the child and gives him a sense of control so he can monitor his own behavior."
You can reward progress with a treat after supper. Over time, you can switch to abstract rewards such as television or computer time. But do keep the goals realistic and reachable to ensure maximum success, Schultz says.
Self-monitoring also helps a child to examine, judge and modify his behavior, while focusing on the process rather than the product of an activity. Question your child about how he thought he handled a situation and offer suggestions for use next time. Watch a movie and ask how he thinks the character will handle a conflict or how he feels the character felt after a struggle. This helps your child to think through situations before they happen to him or her, Schultz says.
"Logical consequences work for a child who is not impulsive or who sees the connection between a bike left out in the rain and rust afterwards," Schultz says. But instead of waiting for the bike to rust, try an experimental approach. Ask "Remember what happened when that old iron pot we used for a dog dish was left outside? Your bike might do that too, so..."