Free The No Cry Discipline Solution by Elizabeth Pantley Page A

breakdown. For example, if your child is ush-
    ered around town for hours as you run countless mundane errands,
    it’s likely a tantrum and fussiness will be going right along with
    you. If he is put in the same room and given the same toys day after
    day to occupy his time, his boredom with the unchanging environ-
    ment will often lead him to search for stimulation and experiment
    in ways that are perceived as misbehavior.
    Solutions
    Quench your child’s never-ending thirst for learning something
    new—no matter where you are. When you’re on the go, bring along
    a small bag of toys, books, and snacks. Point out interesting things
    at your destinations. Play word games. “I spy something red.” “How
    many things can you fi nd that start with the letter B ?” “What word rhymes with cat ?” “Can you count the people standing in line?”
    First, Solve the Real Problem
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    A great boredom buster is to get your child involved in what you
    are doing. Even a toddler can pick three red apples at the grocery
    store, snap peas in half during dinner preparation, and fetch a diaper when you are changing the baby. Children who are actively
    involved and engaged tend to be happier and less disruptive than
    those who are bored and unfocused.
    Rotate the toys that are available to your child for playtime—
    separate your child’s toys into three boxes and put out one-third
    at a time in his play area. Every few days, or once a week, rotate
    the boxes to keep the offerings fresh. Add new things to the mix
    often. Avoid noncreative toys with limited purpose. Instead search
    for toys that have long play value and that can be used in a variety
    of ways, such as building blocks, toy animals, and miniatures of
    real-life things (play kitchen sets or tools, for example).
    Frequently a daily routine involves having a child play in exactly
    the same place day after day—often in a toy corner. I encourage
    you to set up various small play centers throughout your house,
    since a new environment provides interesting changes and will
    keep a child happy and engaged much longer.
    Here’s one more thing to keep in mind: while you want to pro-
    vide your child with the tools to stay busy and interested, you don’t
    want to become the tour director. Give your child toys and direc-
    tion, but don’t feel that you must orchestrate every activity. Nor
    should you be the permanent playmate. Encourage your child’s
    ability for independent play.
    The Problem: Overstimulation
    Certain types of situations are breeding grounds for children’s
    unruly behavior. When a child or a group of children are in
    an intense, noisy, active situation there is a good chance their behavior will also be intense, noisy, and active. Typical situations

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    No-Cry Discipline Parenting Skills and Tools
    Arianna, age 2½; Kailee, age 4; and Ellianna, age 2½
    involve birthday parties, family gatherings, playgrounds, carnivals,
    and shopping malls. Children take in all the sights, sounds, and
    motion around them, and it seems that they cannot sift through
    it all, so everything at once is absorbed right into their actions.
    Wanting to take it all in and do everything that can be done, they
    become a refl ection of the commotion surrounding them.
    Solutions
    First, be prepared in advance. Your child shouldn’t arrive tired or
    hungry. Try to plan the schedule so it doesn’t interfere with usual
    nap times or mealtimes. If the excursion is to be more than an
    hour long, plan to purchase snacks or bring along a few healthy
    First, Solve the Real Problem
    63
    snacks, such as pretzels and cheese or granola mix, plus something
    to drink.
    Remember that no matter how busy the planned day will be,
    there will likely be lulls in the activity—such as waiting in line,
    drives to the destination, or time at the table waiting for food to
    be served. Have an assortment of small toys, activities, and books
    with you to fi ll any waiting spaces.
    A verbal preparation lesson