Chapter 11 - Ignoring Problem Behavior

Introduction

The purpose of this chapter is to learn how to use ignoring as a way to reduce problem behaviors. With young children, ignoring can be a very effective way to decrease undesirable behavior. It is not effective in all situations with all children.

Other strategies will be discussed in later chapters. Four general strategies that help to manage a child's behavior are:

1. Praise appropriate behavior
2. Ignore inappropriate behavior
3. Be quick to praise or ignore
4. Be consistent.

A consequence is something that happens just after a behavior. Consequences can strengthen or weaken the behavior that happened just before. If you want to see a behavior happen again, praise it. If you don't want to see a behavior happen again, ignore it.

Chapter 11 discusses the following topics:

• What is Ignoring?
• When Should I Ignore My Child?
• How Should I Ignore?
  • Obvious Ignoring
  • Immediate Ignoring
  • Consistent Ignoring
  • Remembering The Good
  • Is It Working?
  • Safety
  • The Catch!
  • Practice Ignoring and Praising Your Child Worksheet