Whether going back to school or starting school for the first time, children may often feel nervous and sometimes even scared after a fun-filled summer. They have to deal with the fear of leaving trusted adults and loved ones to build another relationship in their school environment. While some children might adjust well within the first few days of school, others might find the transition challenging. They will express their anxiety and frustration about the experience in different ways. Sometimes children can express emotion through their behaviors, and some behaviors may even be concerning. As parents try to help our young ones to express their anxiety and frustration appropriately, redirection as a parenting technique can assist with the challenges that come with learning appropriate behaviors to express their emotions.
Redirection is used by parents and caregivers to prevent personal injury, promote desirable behavior, reduce punishing interactions, and promote learning and exploration. It is used when a child seems unfocused or when a child engages in harmful behavior. Redirection can be verbal, physical (modeling and demonstration), or both used at the same time. Nevertheless, redirection must be age-appropriate, and free of threats and negative statements to facilitate its effectiveness.
It is worth noting that parents and caregivers be specific so that the child knows exactly what is required of them when requesting a desirable behavior. For example, instead of telling a child who is not focusing on doing their homework but is playing with the eraser to “hurry up with the homework,” try asking the child to “put the eraser away and let us finish your homework now,” while remaining calm.
Here are a few tips to consider when redirecting a child:
- Remain calm and do not address the behavior when you are angry or upset.
- Remove the child from the situation.
- Help the child work through the emotions that are causing the expression of negative behavior by empathizing with the child.
- Set limits with empathy.
If you have any questions regarding this topic or any other parenting topic, please contact The Parent Line at 808-526-1222 or 1-800-816-1222.
Source: The Parent Line – https://www.theparentline.org/wp-content/uploads/Fall-2023-Newsletter-COLOR.pdf