Every so often I go into schools to either take over a class or interact with students. This keeps me in touch with the kids of today and confirms over and over again that having a reciprocal, respectful relationship with
kids is really very simple. What I have found over the past 17 years is that one of the most profound things we can do to get kids to listen to us is to smile. Here's how it works...

Have you ever been walking down the street and someone smiles at you?

Instantly you feel good and smile back. There is actually a chemical reaction that occurs in the body when you smile which makes you feel a quick rush of euphoria.

Now, what if you saw someone you knew, chatted a while on the street and then upon saying good-bye that person gave your arm or back a quick, but loving pat or rub. Wow! Now you're really feeling happy, liked, maybe even slightly appreciated.

Kids of all ages, yes, even teens, respond extremely well to smiles and loving touch. When I go into schools I immediately fall in love with all the kids and just naturally give them smiles, attention and loving touch.
In fact, even when I'm in a classroom with some teenage boys labelled, "Difficult" I quickly have them on my side. They even say to me, "Can you come every day?"

I know with every inch of my being that the only thing humans truly yearn for is to love and be loved. Smiling and loving touch can achieve the very special goal of showing someone they are appreciated and cared for.

Now, other than making people happy, what is the other benefit of smiling often? Discipline becomes easier! When a child feels that they are liked and loved by their parent they automatically and naturally just want to
behave well. They enjoy the relationship they have with you and want to maintain it.

Will there still be times when a child will misbehave or do something we've asked them not to? Yes, this is the natural development of children as they test to find out how their world works. However, the amount of
times will be fewer and the intensity of these episodes will be greatly diminished. (Now is the time to use my 4 Step-Discipline Technique).

So, smile often, give tender, loving touch, then watch the change in not only your behaviour, but in your child's behaviour as well.