Is your kid acting up because they are bored? Give them a job! Find something productive they can do like carrying items, cleaning something besides their own toys, or sorting some objects.

I’m amazed out how quickly a little responsibility can cause a kid to shape up. My favorite example of this is bringing in groceries. After a long day my son was cranky and stubborn. He had the kind of attitude where he objected to everything just because he could. 

I think he might have turned down eating candy if I was the one suggesting it!

But when asked him if he could help carry in a box of cereal, he suddenly rose to the occasion. His attitude improved and he became a responsible helper for quite a while.

I’ve learned that, if I involve my son in whatever I am doing with some kind of meaningful task, his attitude and behavior improve immediately.