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Show and Vj Home e J Dr. Daryl J. McCarty Executive Secretary Utah Educotion Association Praise student for good work According to one definition, education educa-tion is characterized by results that produce change in behavior. Punishment is one way to change a child's behavior. Let's listen in on a conversation between bet-ween two youngsters on the way home from school. It went this way: "Why'd you get sent home from school, Bobby?" "Because I bit Freddie." "Why'd you do that?" "I always bite Freddie when I want to get sent home." The people in charge of Bobby's school have a problem here. They prescribed a punishment for Bobby that really wasn't a punishment at all. If the principal had kept Bobby in school after the last bell rang that day, things might have changed. Bobby might really have been punished punish-ed by the longer school day, and Freddie Fred-die might not get his body marred by so many bite marks in the future. The use of "positive reinforcement" is an effective way of getting the desired behavior from children. When Cindy practices her piano lessons longer than she agreed, give her a hug. That's positive reinforcement. Too often, a child gets that kind of attention at-tention only when doing something rotten. rot-ten. If the kid wants attention, chances are he or she will misbehave to get it. The use of praise, when praise is honestly due, can help change behavior to the better. Catching children at being good and praising them is good parenting. paren-ting. Under any circumstances, be consistent consis-tent with your children. Most of all, letting your children see a good example of behavior and assuring them of your love can be your best tools for encouraging good behavior. |