Parenting Article- Rewarding Inappropriate Behavior

This article is a three part look at Rewarding Inappropriate Behavior.

Parents have you ever rewarded inappropriate behavior without conscientiously thinking about it? Many parents have, especially in situations like the following: You have repeatedly told your daughter she is not to beg to go over to a friend’s house after you have said no. You are now talking to a friend. Your daughter comes up to you, bends down on one knee, and with the most pitiful eyes implores you that she needs to go over to her friend’s house because she has the latest and greatest gadget. You have already told her no twice today. But you think she looks so funny or so cute, or you do not want to be embarrassed in front of your friend, so you override your previous no. What does your child learn by this? This over the top behavior will get her what she wants. Will she do it again? Why not, it works. (The behavior was inappropriate because she purposely begged when you told her not to do this when you have already said no.) Consciously make an effort to not let your guard down and let your child get away with behavior like this. When your child grows up if their boss says X needs to be in on time no bended knee sad puppy eyed look will give them more time. It will just make them look unprofessional. It is your job as the parent to get them ready for the world at large, not society.