Top 5 Helpful Tips and Tools for Managing Your Child's Behavior at Home, School, and in Homeschool

Continuing our guide on special education, today we're discussing behavior!!

One of the main reasons of parents are opting for homeschooling today is behavior problems (and safety) in normal schools. Hence undoubtedly, good behavior management is a critical factor for success, not only in school and at home, but more importantly when your child attends homeschool.

Here are five "cost-effective" tips that'll help parents and teachers manage a child's behavior in home, school or in homeschooling.

1. Tokens: One of the easiest ways to manage a child’s behavior is by using a token system. This is where the child earns tokens by behaving well and then they can spend them on privileges, such as screen time or a later bedtime. This is a tried and tested system that is both cost-effective and easy to implement. Another way to implement this is with a reward chart. This has the same effect as using tokens, but it can be more fun for children.

There are many ways on the internet you can go about this. Check out one such creative Mom's Pinterest page for some of these wonderful ideas.

2. Practice Good Manners yourself:

Practicing good manners, especially in front of children is so very important. Mannerisms go beyond verbal. Body language is just as important to keep respectful. Simple things, like applauding/ clapping when they do something that is appreciated, will reinforce that behavior.

Your student-child should look you in the eye when you’re speaking. This is critical. When you are talking, your student-child should stop what they’re doing and look at you. You should expect this each and every time. And likewise, you should provide the same attention when your child speaks to you and look them in the eye so they know they are being paid attention to.

In addition, you should model and expect a calm tone of voice and a relaxed body.

Children can pick up on these manners and if you notice keenly, they may even start copying some of your behaviors. Just make sure you appreciate them when they do.

3. Give Them Choices:

Kids feel more empowered when they have some control over their lives. You have to be compassionate about the challenges your child is facing and find ways to give them some control in their lives, such as letting them decide what to pack in their lunch or which clothes to wear. There is credible research on how this one thing can greatly improve behavior in children as well as adults.

4. Establish a Routine and Structure for homeschooling:

When it comes to homeschooling as with traditional schooling, homeschooling requires structure and organization for your child or children to have a safe environment for learning. Routines are essential for any classroom environment and so a homeschool also has a need for consistent routines in order to create a setting for learning.

One of the first routines you will need to set up is your daily routine. Deciding when school begins and ends each day, as well as the schedule in between it. For example, when is math? What time is science? When do you break for lunch? when is reading time? when is it time to play?

When your child (student) knows the schedule, he or she is able to focus on the other parts of homeschooling. This most definitely supports your homeschool behavior management. Without routines, it is quite difficult for your homeschool to be successful and certainly leads to a disruptive environment.

For a great resource on setting schedules for special education, please do check out the lovely blog here from Simply SpecialED

5. Include the Child while setting the Curriculum for homeschooling:

One of the benefits of homeschooling is that it allows you the freedom to select your curriculum.

To promote good homeschool behavior we encourage you to involve your child in selecting and/or developing your homeschool curriculum.

Based on the child’s unique requirement, you may have some parameters to follow, however, you still have plenty of room to personalize your child’s education. And the more involved your child is in this process, the more guarantee you have for good homeschool behavior. You may want to include interests and hobbies in the homeschooling curriculum.

Imagine how invested your child would be as your homeschool student if they help select what it is they study. Good behavior is then a natural outcome of that process.

Got more tips and tricks to help children with behavior at home and/or in school, please do let us know in the comments below.