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:

PEEK-A-FOOD

Question: How can I get my son to focus on dinner so we can all finish?

Behavior: Not eating.

Problem: Parents stuck there until child finishes.

Solution: Game-ify it.

Activity: How about a magic trick? Close your eyes and see if he can make a bite of food disappear. Repeat until finished. The key is to make sure it disappears into his mouth. This works well with one parent coaching him while the other pretends to be confounded over where the food could have gone, but it will work with one parent playing both roles, too.

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

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