Come up with your own activities as you see fit and depending on the time you have available to do some of the activities that require your help. HAVING YOUR CHILDREN IN FRONT OF YOUR TV OR GAMES ALL DAY IS NOT HEALTHY FOR THEM!!
Acknowledgment: Acknowledge and let your children know when they do a good job, listen or make the right decision. Make a big deal so that they see that good behavior is well acknowledged. Associate positive feelings with those actions and they will be willing to do those actions more often because they associate them with pleasure (good feelings). .
Set activities:
►Drawing time (30 minutes)
►Play time (1.5 hours)
►Reading time (1 hour)
►Snack (30 minutes)
►TV time (1 hour) - if you have more than one child, take turns between shows
►Arts and crafts (1 hour)
►Lunch time (1.5 hours)
►Learning time (1 hour)
►Etc.
Routines: children work better if there is a routine. Children will be loud, playful, silly children but you can help yourself by keeping organization at your household and lowering the stress levels for yourself. Keeping children busy will keep them from fighting, being all over you all day and help them develop healthy habits while grow mentally. Set a schedule and place it in the refrigerator or somewhere were you can see it and stick to that schedule.
Spend Time Together: If children know that at the end of the day you’re going to spend some time with them to play, read books, go for a walk, go to the park, etc. they will be more willing to wait, be patient when they need attention from you. Make it a habit to have a daily activity together. Your children crave that attention from you and if you satisfy that attention, chances are they will be more willing to work with you on those times you say “not right now because mommy/daddy is busy, but we can do that together later when we do family time”
Incentives: Incentives are things that encourage you. In this case we are going to use incentives to motivate children to behave and listen. Example: Weekly Behavior Chart (call it something like “The Happy chart”) You don’t have to buy it you can make it. All you need are 7 slots to place stickers daily Monday-Sunday. Each day that your child behaves well and listens they get a sticker. Whoever accumulates 6 stickers at the end of the week gets to pick a price from treasure chest, can go out to the park/pool or gets to get some other type of reward. The reward doesn’t have to be big and expensive. Just the fact that they are getting rewarded for good behavior is incentive enough.
Children know when you’re not paying attention and they will not stop until you acknowledge them. It is better for you and for them to pay attention the first time and give them affirmation.
►Great Job
►That is cool or pretty
►That was awesome
►I understand
►I see
►You are so smart
►You are so creative, etc.
►I’m listening
►Answer the questions they ask you
Listen/Pay Attention: When your children talk to you or ask you to look at what they’re doing, look at them and listen and give affirmation. Some affirmation words are: