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Written by Dr. John Carosso How do you discipline your child? Most parents rely on raising their voice, pestering, threatening, loss of privilege, and time-out, in that order (with the last two being used interchangeably). We have to ask ourselves, as parents, is this effective (especially the first two options)? If you’re taking the time to read this post, probably […]
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Written by Dr. John Carosso The discipline trap How beneficial is time-out, taking away the TV, or ‘grounding’ a child from going outside? Of course, as most parents have come to find, all of these discipline strategies can be effective. However, what happens if you rely too heavily on these strategies? Well, first, your household can become like a gulag; […]
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Written by Dr. John Carosso How it all began Many years ago, starting out as a Psychologist, I came across a Principal who established a ritual with his teachers. At the conclusion of every morning meeting, he would huddle the teachers together and lead a chant “softer and closer” repeated four to five times, before sending the teachers off to […]
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Written by Dr. John Carosso Sticker charts can be an invaluable resource. Kids love to get stickers, which are inexpensive, highly motivating, and can be used numerous times throughout the day or week. From my professional and personal experience, I have seen first-hand how kids’ eyes light-up when they earn stickers, and the opportunity to cash-in for some later reward. […]
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Written by Dr. John Carosso I decided to re-post this post because, as of late, this issue has repeatedly been broached during my talks with parents. I hope you find this to be helpful. Taking away video-games (or TV, or a toy…) doesn’t work? Say it ain’t so! Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the tried-and-true discipline […]
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Written by Dr. John Carosso Are parents “bribing” their kids? Yikes! Parents often talk of “bribing” their child and, when they use the term, there is a sense of ‘doing the wrong thing’, making the situation worse, and even a sense of guilt. However, in actuality, when using the term, parents are often simply conveying the idea of giving their […]
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Written by Dr. John Carosso Taking away video-games (or TV, or a toy…) doesn’t work? Say it ain’t so!! Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the tried-and-true discipline method of taking away video-games, a favorite toy, or whatever else is largely ineffective and, in fact, counter-productive. How can that be, you ask, when taking away a favorite […]
» Read moreSubtle difference? Well, it’s really not so subtle. It’s the difference between labeling your child, or simply describing an annoying and transient behavior.
» Read moreWritten by Dr. John Carosso Water in the face, Tabasco sauce… There have been some recent stories about parents and teachers using ‘aversive’ techniques to ‘punish’ autistic children for misbehavior. One boy was stuffed in a bag and another was squirted in the face with water. I’ve also heard stories of parents using Tabasco hot sauce on the tongue of […]
» Read moreWritten by Dr. Carosso No Drama Outings: As many of you are too well aware, taking your kids out to the store, or restaurant, can be as adventure-packed as any Indiana Jones movie. However, those are occasions you’d rather do without the drama. Get some help: If you want some help to improve your child’s behavior during outings, just go […]
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