Chapter 11 - Ignoring Problem Behavior

When Should I Ignore My Child?

Ignoring works well for behaviors like whining, crying, nagging and temper tantrums. It is NOT a good strategy to use with behaviors like running out into the street, breaking toys or biting. If you consistently ignore problem behaviors, those behaviors should decrease because your child is not getting attention for them. Your child will quickly learn that those behaviors will not bring you to him/her.