How to Teach a Child Good Behavior – Using the Three P’s

Stop and consider your own life and childhood. Do you have many memories of intentionally being taught how to act correctly? Maybe you have a few fun memories and a bunch of memories that make you smack yourself in the face and think, “Ugh, if only I hadn’t learned that lesson the hard way!” We want to train our little ones to know what behavior is acceptable and what is not, so they don’t have to learn the hard way. So, let’s talk about how to teach a child good behavior.

Training your little one what is right and good.

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When I got pregnant with my first born, I would daydream about how great my life as a mom would be.

One thing I knew was that I would walk through fire to make sure my little family was strong, enjoyed each other and that each child was equipped for living a great life! I was convinced it was possible. However, I’ll admit, at first, I didn’t know how to accomplish it.

I thought, “surely, good parenting isn’t only passing out punishment for every mistake a child makes?!” “Can’t I actually train or teach my child how to behave well, instead?” This was so foreign to everyone around me at the time.

Back then, and even more today, you’re much more likely to find a lot of people telling you about the hardships of raising kids than to find a resource showing you how to actually do it well!

How to Teach a Child Good Behavior

I put my blinders on, put my head down, and started looking for every answer I could find on how to actually train a child to be good.

How to teach a child good behavior using the 3 P’s. In just 3 simple steps!

#1. Present The Good Behavior Requirement.

• Identify what you want from your little one. Whether it’s sitting still, speaking kindly, sharing, being gently, or any other desirable behavior, present to your child what it is you expect. Be clear and concise about what is acceptable and what is not.

• Don’t hold back when it comes to communicating with your child. Don’t believe that words are wasted on your child because of age. Your child understands more than you might think. And remember, you are training SO she understands, not because she already does. Read more about teaching your toddler to talk here.

• Once you have told your child in a few concise words what it is you want or expect from her, move on to #2.

#2. Practice the Good Behavior.

So, this is where the fun starts. When I began child training with my firstborn, I had no support other than my husband. I was the first of my friends to have a baby and the concept of child training was foreign to any other acquaintances around me whom already had children.

It’s true, I was mocked a bit. Folks just didn’t “get it.”

Why would you sit down with a one-year-old and practice being still?

Because I care deeply about the well being of my child.

Fortunately, you and I have found each other, so you don’t have to be “the only one” intentionally training your child, the way I was back then.

• Practice desirable behaviors with your child. Sitting still, for example, is practiced by sitting knee to knee with your little one, setting a 30-second timer, and seeing how long she can be still. Make it a game, and don’t practice more than a couple of times and only for a few seconds depending on your child’s age and ability (give her credit, she’s very capable.)

• Approach practicing behavior this way for every good behavior you want your child to display.

Then…

#3. Perfect the Good Behavior.

• Your child will never be able to execute a behavior perfectly, every single time, every single day. Human nature dictates that she will make mistakes. When I say, “perfect it” I mean to do #2 so much, that the good behavior becomes a habit.

• Practicing it to perfection means she will display this good behavior more times than not because she has been taught how to do it right and how to do it well.

• You’ll notice your child will be really good at one behavior and not so great at another.

Pay attention to these things. These are easy indicators of who your child is and who she’ll become. For instance, sitting still came easily to my oldest son. From a very early age, he could memorize long bible verses.

Today, he reads big fat books all day long for pleasure. He is laid back and tech-savvy.

On the other hand, my daughter needed extra practice sitting still, however, she always had an easy time practicing boldness in regards to speaking to people.

Today, she is a high-energy, gymnastic-loving girl who is very relational. People are important to her. She’s filled with compassion and has a smile and hello for everyone she meets.

Set Your Child Up For Success

You set your child up for success when you intentionally train her good behavior. Being dedicated to teaching her good behaviors minimizes the number of things she has to learn the hard way. In addition, you’ll be so tuned-in to who she is as a person, you’ll be able to train her all the better.

Child training is a beautiful cycle that benefits you, your family and most importantly, your child!

Spend some time each day intentionally training desirable behavior into your child. Present it to her, practice it and perfect it. Child training never ends. You’ll find yourself revisiting many behaviors you’ve previously taught. That’s OK.

Soak up every moment you can with your little punkin! She won’t be little for long and the bigger she gets, the more complex the training gets. Make the most of these precious little years!

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