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Parenting tips from Marquette's Behavior Clinic

Struggling with your own young child? Try some of these tips from Dr. Bob Fox, director of Marquette’s Behavior Clinic and a professor of counselor education and counseling psychology in the College of Education. (Read the full story.)

• Enjoy your toddler or preschooler; this amazing period in their development passes too quickly.

• Talk to others and read about challenges your young child presents or even seek professional help when needed, but most importantly, trust your own judgment — you know your child best.

• Separate your child’s behavior from your child; just because he has a tantrum at the grocery store does not mean he is a bad kid.

• Try not to discipline your toddler when you are angry or upset; calm yourself first, then deal with your child’s behavior.

• Parents need to communicate with each other so they remain on the same page when raising their children.

• Don’t correct a bad behavior with a bad behavior: i.e., striking your child when he’s throwing a fit. He’ll probably just hit back.

• Have reasonable expectations. “If your 2-year-old listens to you half the time, that’s pretty good,” Fox says.

• Set a timer to remind yourself to encourage or praise your child several times a day. “That’s the only way you’re going to affect change,” Fox says.

• Don’t constantly pepper a young child with questions (“Can you give Mommy the yellow car?”) during play time. For 15 minutes a day, let your child direct the play. Just play along and comment on what she is doing.