Creativity expert, professor, father and former day care provider Rustin Wolfe writes a weekly MinnMoms parenting advice column that uses creative punishments to put a positive spin on negative behavior.

Here's one of his creative solutions:

METHOD MAN

Question: How do you come up with creative solutions to naughty behavior?

Behavior: Struggling to come up with solutions.

Problem: Need to solve parenting challenges.

Solution: See above.

Activity: First, make sure you're clear about which behavior is the problem. Second, consider why it's a problem. Third, brainstorm options that could be a solution to that problem. And finally, select the best option and elaborate on details of the activity.

It is critically important to understand the problem in order to come up with an appropriate solution. And while you may need only one solution, it is crucial to generate a lot of them. The best way to arrive at a good solution is to have plenty to choose from. In doing so, some of your solutions will be terrible, and that's OK. In fact, that can be a great part of the fun.

If you'd like to learn more about Creative Problem Solving, here's a good place to start: creativeeducationfoundation.org/our-process/what-is-cps.

-- Want Rustin's solution for your child's challenging behavior? Send questions to naughtycolumn@gmail.com.

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