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:

PICKY EATER

Question: I know this is nothing unique, but how can I get my son to eat food he's not interested in eating?

Behavior: Won't eat certain foods.

Problem: Balanced diet requires more than one food group.

Solution: Increase the difficulty level.

Activity: Instead of a fork, give him a toothpick. Don't stray too far — the thing does have a sharp point — but it can make a dull food more interesting. Make a show of it. Once, I set my 5-year-old's plate down with a toothpick and no explanation. He looked up and asked why I did that. I answered, 'I just wanted to see if you would be able to eat with it.' The gauntlet had been thrown down. His response, 'I can. Watch!' While this isn't likely a long-term solution, it could kick-start things to get you out of a rut.

  • 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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