Betsy Brown Braun

Child Development and Behavior Specialist. Parent Educator. Best Selling Author

Discipline

No More Tattling!

by on , under Adolescents, Behavior, Brat-Proofing, Communication, Discipline, Elementary School Children, Environmental influences, Expectations, Parenting, Relationships

In case you didn’t know, tattling should be illegal in your family. Many parents don’t realize that. When parents come to me for help with their kids’ fighting, I always ask is if their kids are tattletales. Just about 100% of the time the answer is YES! And they don’t even flinch at the look of horror on my face! The funny thing is, it’s parents who perpetuate the problem. Tattling is seen as necessary and useful. Believe me, it does more harm than help. Tattling at school and tattling … [Read more...] about No More Tattling!

Should You Discipline Someone Else’s Child….Revised

by on , under Behavior, Communication, Discipline, Environmental influences, Parent modeling, Parenting, Relationships

It’s hard enough to raise your own child—teaching him the rules of the road, guiding him as he learns how to “play nicely”—but what happens when a child who is not yours is in need of some pointed guidance (a swift kick in the pants!)? You’re having a playdate, and the guest grabs a toy (your child’s favorite Thomas car) out of your child’s hands.  The grabber’s mom observes without reaction. You’re at the park, and a girl you don’t know throws sand at your child. The sand thrower’s mom is … [Read more...] about Should You Discipline Someone Else’s Child….Revised

Kids in Restaurants?

by on , under Behavior, Brat-Proofing, Child development, Communication, Discipline, Environmental influences, Expectations, Parent modeling, Parenting, Public Behavior, Toddlers

Our dinner at a local sushi restaurant was a bit earlier than we usually dine.  So I casually mentioned to my husband that we might overlap “family time” at the eatery.  But we decided that it wouldn’t be a problem; we both love kids.  Little did we realize it was the parents who would ruin our dinner out on a Friday night. This blog is not about parents who use tech devices during meals. I have previously complained about that. (http://betsybrownbraun.com/2010/10/16/join-the-family/)  Nor is … [Read more...] about Kids in Restaurants?

If Not Spanking, Then What?

by on , under Behavior, Brat-Proofing, Child development, Discipline, Learning, Parent modeling, Parenting, Toddlers

Seems like almost every parent today knows that spanking is verboten. Everyone except that parent who says, “My father spanked me, and I turned out fine.” To him I want to say, You don’t remember how you felt while you were being spanked—the terror, the helplessness, the anger. Working with parents for 40 years has demonstrated to me that parents spank because they don’t know what else to do that “really works.” It is out of their simmering frustration that they resort to harsh physical … [Read more...] about If Not Spanking, Then What?

Tantrums: Doing What Comes Naturally.

by on , under Behavior, Brat-Proofing, Child development, Discipline, Environmental influences, Expectations, Parenting, Public Behavior, Toddlers

There’s nothing like a toddler’s tantrum or an older child’s melt down to bring a parent to her knees.  It’s one of those behaviors that makes you feel inadequate and helpless, to say nothing of incompetent. Put that tantrum in a public place—a restaurant, the grocery store, the school lobby—and you can add embarrassment, fear, and frustration to your own list of feelings.  The ante is upped. Believe it or not, tantrums are typical of children all over the world, and they look pretty much … [Read more...] about Tantrums: Doing What Comes Naturally.

Should You Discipline Someone Else’s Child?

by on , under Discipline, Parent modeling, Parenting, Peers, Safety

It’s hard enough to raise your own child—teaching him the rules of the road, guiding him as he learns how to “play nicely”—but what happens when a child who is not yours is in need of some pointed guidance (a swift kick in the pants, perhaps!)? You’re having a playdate, and the guest grabs a toy (your child’s favorite Thomas car) out of your child’s hands.  The grabber’s mom observes without reaction. You’re at the park, and a girl you don’t know throws sand at your child. The sand … [Read more...] about Should You Discipline Someone Else’s Child?

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