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- Assure that @5 knows that you will not '
- tolerate disobedience. '
- '
- It can come down to this, either you as the '
- caretaker will take care of @5 or @5 '
- will have to take care of @1 self. '
- When @5 is allowed to prevail, it promotes '
- the sense that @3 can get away with anything '
- if @3 are clever enough. The adult has to dom- '
- inate, not unjustly, but dominate nonetheless. '
- '
- MANAGING DISOBEDIENCE '
- '
- When you are angry or upset or feel that you '
- were provoked, you may well take on someone you '
- respect and love. In the heat of the moment, it'
- may not matter. The caretaker can understand '
- and accept what led to disobedience, but not the'
- disobedience itself. '
- '
- Ask yourself: '
- * Can I understand what led @5 to '
- disobey? '
- * Can I accept the reasons without accept- '
- ing the behavior and convey that? '
- * Can I hold firm to my position? '
- MANAGING DISOBEDIENCE '
- '
- A very young child cannot be willfully disobed- '
- ient in the sense we talk about it. A young '
- child can do things right or do things wrong. '
- This we often translate into good behavior or '
- bad behavior. For a young child, disobedience '
- is a sign of ignorance and the response should '
- educational. '
- '
- Try: '
- * Watching for actions contrary to what you '
- want. '
- * Showing @5 firmly and gently what '
- you want and how you want it, over and over.'
- MANAGING DISOBEDIENCE '
- '
- Children of this age are fighting for their '
- identity. This often turns into to saying no '
- for no logical reason. Caretakers who can take '
- that refusal as a statement of independence are '
- in a better position to respond matter-of-factly'
- in asserting your position and authority. '
- '
- Try: '
- * Taking refusal at this age as a statement '
- of personal preference. '
- * Acknowledging the preference and then '
- restating your expectations. '
- * Insisting on and making sure that you win. '
- MANAGING DISOBEDIENCE '
- '
- Children of this age are testing the limits of '
- their personal space. They are, in a sense, '
- checking to see if you are watching the borders.'
- Reaffirm that the limits still hold by respond- '
- ing swiftly and predictably. Letting something '
- pass leads to confusion and more testing. '
- '
- Try: '
- * Meeting disobedience head-on and as '
- straight-forwardly as possible. '
- * Taking the action you said that you '
- would quickly and without discussion. '
- * Being ready for the next time. '
- MANAGING DISOBEDIENCE '
- '
- Pre-adolescents often try out their personal '
- muscle where they feel the safest, at home. '
- They often do this just to get a reaction. If '
- the reaction is not forthcoming, they may even '
- escalate the provocation. Handling this matters'
- dispassionately often puts them to rest. '
- '
- Try: '
- * Anticipating disobedience when possible. '
- * Warning @1 what will happen if @3 '
- continues. '
- * Acting as you said you would at the first '
- sign that the disobedience is continuing. '
- MANAGING DISOBEDIENCE '
- '
- Adolescents want to establish their independence'
- from their caretakers. This often takes the '
- form of rebellion. Rebellion can be minimized '
- by acting wisely and justly and being sure the '
- child appreciates the justice of the response. '
- '
- Try: '
- * Addressing all signs of rebellion at the '
- moment it occurs. '
- * Asking @5 what @3 sees as an '
- appropriate response. '
- * Acting on or modifying your response as '
- necessary. '
- '
- '
- '
-