Now that your child has (mostly) moved beyond the tantrum stage, your reaction to his or her behavior may change as well.

Here are some tips, according to Triple P (Positive Parenting Program).

The first thing to know is that children aren’t angels. As parents, we should expect them to be disobedient once in a while. So if your child is misbehaving, look for alternative ways to get your point across:

First, don’t give too many instructions. The more you give, the more there’s a chance the child will disobey – and that creates unnecessary conflict. So pick rules that are important to keep your child safe and ensure he or she gets along in the world (manners, sharing, cleaning up after themselves, etc.). Also make sure your instructions are in clear and simple language.

When you see a problem occurring, stop what you are doing and move within an arm’s length of your children. Bend down to their eye level. Gain their attention by using their name, hold their hands firmly and say “no” in a calm, firm voice.

If the child is a bit older, explain specifically what you want them to stop doing and what they should do instead. Be consistent. Choose logical consequences if your child does not do what you ask, such as a short time out or removing a toy or turning off the TV. Idol threats are useless.

Offer your child reasonable options, such as food, clothing, toys, books, etc., so they have some choices in their life.

Don’t forget to praise your child for good behavior.

An extra tip:
Try behavior charts or a job roster to keep track of and reward good behavior or the completion of household chores.