How to encourage good behavior in your child

Parents often resort to using bribes to encourage their children to engage in desired behaviors, but research shows that bribes do not work in the long run. What should parents use instead of bribes to encourage good behavior in their children? Here's a few take home messages from the New York Times article provided below:

•  Turn every task or behavior into a game
• Make it a challenge for your child to engage in a specific behavior or task
• Give prizes spontaneously
• Give your child a choice in what they'd like as a reward
• Use praise as a reward
• Focus on the process it took to achieve the desired behavior, don't focus on just the desired behavior

To read the full article, visit http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/13/fashion/modifying-a-

childs-behavior-without-resorting-to-bribes-this-life.html?pagewanted=1 .