Let's take a time-out from time-outs. Kids are going to test our limits - it's in their job description. But instead of dreading how to respond, parents can seize the opportunity to create activities that are educational and engaging.

Yes, "punishments" can be fun.

Creativity expert, professor, father and former daycare provider Rustin Wolfe applies his scientific techniques to some of life's smallest - but most exasperating - problems weekly at MinnMoms.com.

Here's one of his creative solutions:

Tantrum

Question: How can I get my children to stop embarrassing us with their kicking, screaming tantrums?

Behavior: Kicking, screaming tantrums.

Problem: Parents embarrassed.

Solution: Ignore.

Activity: That's right - ignore. Do nothing. Don't give in; don't get upset. Just keep doing whatever it is you were doing before the tantrum began. Intermittent reward is the most powerful way to modify behavior, so if you give in only occasionally, you are training your child to throw tantrums. And getting upset reinforces them as well - even negative reinforcement is reinforcement. They are throwing a tantrum to get you to react, so don't react. If you're at church, you may have to temporarily remove them. But if you're at the grocery store, anyone who shoots you a judgmental look is probably not a parent. If you look a little closer, you'll notice a sea of sympathetic, 'been there' faces.

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