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:

WE DIDN'T START THE FIRE

Question: I provide day care for a child who is regularly abusing other children. It's as if he has no conscience. His parents are nice, so I don't know what's wrong. What can I do?

Behavior: Abusing other children.

Problem: Doesn't appreciate consequences.

Solution: Tighten the screws.

Activity: It's not so much the severity of the punishment as the consistency of it. While it's possible you've got a psychopath on your hands, it's more likely his 'nice' parents are not providing the necessary discipline. You are then put in the uncomfortable position of providing part-time discipline (much like with a divorce). But once you create the appropriate expectations, his behavior will follow. The key is to create in his mind an anticipation of the consequences. In order to do that, you'll need to:

1. Communicate the expectations to him in advance.

2. Catch him if/when he falls short.

3. Follow through on the punishment.

One would hope there's some carryover to home (for both child and parents), but that may be overly optimistic.

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