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 day-care 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:

Question: My son wiped his snot all over the wall by his bed. How can I get him to stop being so gross?

Behavior: Mucus on wall

Problem: Makes wall dirty, and it's unsanitary

Solution: Logical consequences. He has walked right into a learning opportunity.

Activity: When my son was 4, I saw him examining some snot on his finger. I told him to hold on as I ran to get some Kleenex. I came back just in time to see him finish waving his hand. The booger was gone. I asked him why he didn't wait. He replied with a proud smile, "I made it disappear!"

Clearly, he didn't understand that it was still there ... somewhere. The way to help him appreciate that this behavior makes a mess is to involve him in the cleanup. Have him help clean up the mess or do it entirely by himself if he's old enough. Don't be quick about it, either. Make sure you're extra thorough: Everything should be wiped down even if you can't find the

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evidence to help drive home the point. As you two clean, you can talk about why it's important to clean so thoroughly and what else you wish you were doing instead of cleaning. The next time, he'll be much more likely to think twice.

  • Want Rustin's solution for your child's challenging behavior? Read his bio and post a question at forums.minnmoms.com/index.php?topic=445.0. on the Naughty Column forum.

  • Read the Naughty Column archive at www.minnmoms.com/naughtycolumn.