ABSTRACT
Many parents know that children like, and need, praise and encouragement. Praise is a very powerful tool - it can involve much more than telling a child that he or she has been good. Actively drawing attention to the positive details in a child's behaviour helps the child to know what he or she can do next time. Professionals may need to apologise to the other child or to the child's parent and help their child say sorry too. Antisocial behaviour is much more likely if professionals' child is over-tired, ill or hungry or when the family is stressed by difficult events. Children who more persistently behave in antisocial ways quite often have difficulties in putting their feelings into words. It takes time and patience to help professionals' child learn to use words to express frustration and feelings.
