A behavior contract can play a very effective role in any reward plan (along with reward charts and a token economy). They can be be a useful behavior modification tool when other methods aren't working so well, and can give your child a sense of being involved in a serious, grown-up process.
Using chore charts not only allows for our kids to learn the responsibilities involved in running a household, it allows them to contribute to their fair share of the household chores and teaches them the importance of managing their own responsibilities
It seems that the use of timeout for disciplining children has become an “in vogue” parenting method, particularly over the last five to ten years. Actually I believe that the timeout method has been with us for much, much longer.
Observational Learning takes place automatically. Good or bad, children will learn from the example they witness, particularly from those closest to them. As a parent, your behavior will be the most influential example your child has, particularly while they are younger. Make it a good, strong and positive example.
The strategy of positive reinforcement is simply to utilize the associations children learn between behaviors and consequences to shape behavior. We provide our children with pleasant consequences for engaging in desired behavior.
It's useful to think of bribing children as essentially rewarding them for something BEFORE they have delivered. While rewarding children should be based on your child being rewarded AFTER they have met their obligations.
Praising children is a very powerful way to validate their efforts and successes. However not all praise is created equal. Often parents can "over" praise, or use praise ineffectively, which in turn can diminish it's power. Here you will find some useful tips on praising children appropriately and positively.