10/26/2025
Parenting tip: 💦Water the Flowers 🌺 , Not the Weeds 🌱
As a BCBA, I know it's so easy to get caught up in the "should nots" throughout the day. "Don't touch that!" "Stop running!" "No yelling!" Sound familiar? 💡 But what if we shifted our focus, even just a little? 💡
Think of your child's behaviors like a garden 🪴. Some behaviors are like beautiful flowers 🌺 , and others are like weeds 🍂. It's our job as parents to nurture the flowers 💐 and let the weeds wither 🥀.
Imagine your child quietly playing with their blocks. That's a little flower blooming! 🌻🌸
Even a simple "Wow, you're playing so nicely!" is like a little drop of water. Or, maybe they shared a toy without being asked. That's sunshine! A high-five or a big hug is like warm sunlight. 🌞☀️🌞🌅
The more we "water" 💧those small positive behaviors with praise, attention, and positive reinforcement, the more they'll grow. It's like giving them fertilizer! 🌻💐 🙌
Now, what about the "weeds"? Sometimes, ignoring those non-dangerous negative behaviors can be surprisingly effective. If they're whining for attention and you know they're not in danger, try to resist the urge to react. By not giving those "weeds" water and sunlight (attention), they often start to shrink.
🙌🙌📈Focus on the positives: Look for those little moments of good behavior, no matter how small. 🥹😌
💦💦Water the flowers: Praise, high-fives, and positive attention are your tools.
🥀🥀Let the weeds wither: Sometimes, ignoring minor negative behaviors can make them disappear.
By focusing on growing those positive behaviors, we create a more beautiful and harmonious garden for our children to thrive in.
As always, each child is different, and it's essential to have your child evaluated by a board-certified behavior analyst to find the absolute best individual behavior approach.
