Homeschool Parenting Discipline:

Balky Child-Step II

Homeschool Parenting Discipline: Step II may be in order if Step I, basically taking "balkiness" in stride, didn't work.

If your child is still "reluctant" to cooperate, it's time spice up the classes. Children love and respond to the unexpected. It brightens their day and yours...and gives much encouragement.

Here is a list of suggestions to adapt to your use:

• Role Reversal--Hand the reins of teaching to the child. Set a timer for half an hour or so. During that "class period," he is to lead the class; you sit in his place and play the student.

• Unlikely Response--When giving oral answers, make them a game. For example, if English got boring or really tedious (Never!), I'd ask my son to act instead of answer. For noun--jump once, for pronoun--jump twice, for verb--turn around, etc.

  This burns energy as well as revs up interest.

• Changed Response--If the page of multiplication tables seems endless, do some orally. Ditto English answers. In reading, English, history or science, could the answers be drawn in some way rather than written? Would a table or chart work?

• Reverse Day--Begin with art or the last class and work your way to the first.

• Declare a Day--Is today a special day of any sort? If not, make one up!

  Left-handers Day...Yellow Day...Flower Day...Water Day...Polish Day...Backwards Day...

  Then follow the theme with all activities. Yellow Day--All wear yellow. Put a yellow ribbon in your hair. Dad wears a yellow tie. Use a yellow pencil or crayon for work. Write a paragraph about all things yellow. Lunch on grilled cheese sandwiches, bananas and potato chips. Have lemon sherbet for a treat. Watch Old Yellar.

  Homeschool parenting discipline opens a vista of excitement and creativity. The sky's the limit. What a joy!

• Another homeschooling discipline tip--If a child is struggling, ask him to really apply himself that day. Then agree that the family will go out for a treat in the evening. ("Apply" here just means to work diligently; actual grades don't count at this point.)

  Don't make an issue of this or tell anyone else except Dad. Throughout the day, remind the child of the arrangement if necessary and assist him to keep up his end of the bargain, but don't nag, plead, whine, etc.

  If he is successful, then go to celebrate. If he isn't, then quietly don't do anything. When he asks, simply inform him that he didn't do his part. Try again after a little while.

• Unit Studies--What is your child's current interest? Take that and work it into all the subjects. Use all the resources available: field trip, books, film, CD's, personal interview, the internet, etc.

Enjoy these homeschool parenting discipline techniques. These are just the beginning. Use them as a springboard to jump start the "reluctant learner."

Helping a Child Through Balkiness-Step I

Step III

Step IV

Discipline Articles

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