Effective Discipline Strategy Five: Help Problem-solve, by Dr. Brad Schwall, www.coolkidschannel.com

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Effective discipline includes teaching youth to have the discipline to recognize poor choices and to adjust their own behavior.  Problem-solving helps youth think for themselves about how they may behave positively and make constructive choices.

If a student is forgetting homework, the student can define the problem and brainstorm solutions to change the behavior and outcome.

If behavior problems occur when a child is angry, problem-solving can help the child calm down and find a more productive strategy for handling the problem.  By listening and helping children brainstorm solutions to problems, children can learn to make good choices when they are angry.

Follow these steps to help youth problem-solve:

• Help the child define the problem.  Help the child identify what negative consequences the negative behavior causes.  Ask, "How would you describe the problem?"  Ask, "What consequences happened when you made that choice?"

• Guide the child to brainstorm solutions to the problem.  Help the child think of actions that will replace the poor choice and lead to good consequences.  Ask, "What could you do to solve the problem?"  Ask, "What could you do instead that would lead to good consequences?"

• Guide the child to choose the best solution.  Emphasize that good solutions are safe, lead to good consequences, and help avoid problems.  Ask, "What is the best solution?  Which solution has the best consequences?"