Kids who study every day and who turn in their homework on time do better than kids who don’t.

But few children choose those good habits without a fight. So if you want to help your child develop them, you may be in for a bit of a struggle. Still, you will be more successful if you understand these basics:

• Behaviors that are rewarded tend to continue. Behaviors that are punished generally decrease or even stop. Neither will be true unless the rewards and punishments matter to the child.
• Consequences must be applied every time. Otherwise, kids will try to wear you down.
• Some kids need both positive and negative consequences. (“If you do all your homework this week, you can have a friend for a sleepover. Otherwise, you’ll lose TV time this weekend.”)
• Grandma’s rule (work before play) is always a good idea. Try this if your child asks you for something and you haven’t had time to think about it. (“Let me think about that. But I’ll be more likely to say yes if you have finished your math problems.”)
• As a parent, you have a right to say, “No.”

Copyright © Parent Institute