A quarter of parents of kids ages 3 to 5 have threatened misbehaving kids with no Santa, a poll from the University of Michigan Health found. Parents also admitted that they have threatened to leave a party or take away a toy. However, these strategies could backfire. “Positive reinforcement and consistent discipline are more likely to shape long-term behavior,” Pediatrician Dr. Susan Woolford said. “Empty threats, however, undermine trust and credibility and aren’t usually effective.” Woolford recommends strategies that emphasize the consequences of behavior, like having a child clean up after spilling a drink in anger. (UPI)
Phone Topic: Do you use Christmas to try to get your kids to behave?