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:

SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED

Question: How can I get my kids to leave me alone while I assemble our IKEA furniture?

Behavior: Interfering with assembly

Problem: They could get hurt, and you can't get the furniture put together.

Solution: They're bored, and you just stumbled into a treasure trove of activities.

Activity: The obvious activity is having them help you. Depending on their age, they could help you find a part, hand it to you, hold it steady or even help screw it in. If that doesn't seem to be working, the furniture packaging is an arts and crafts goldmine. What could the box become? What can they build with the Styrofoam? What kind of mural can be drawn on the butcher paper that was once used to separate planks of wood? Big paper is so much more fun than regular paper! Present the situation to them as an opportunity rather than an obstacle.

  • 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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