Originally Posted by onesnowyowl

What sets a childcare professional and a parent apart is often quite simply that the parent is afraid to be the bad guy. That's all. There is an emotional attachment they have to their child, and they are afraid of huring their child's feelings. Most behavior problems stem from parents trying to appease their child instead of disciplining the child. When I step in and discipline the child--because there's no emotional attachment, and I am not afraid to be the bad guy--the child straightens up. In 75% of cases, it really is that easy. And when I say discipline, I mean that what I say is law. The child must adhere to the rules I have set or else they face consequences, and I follow through with the consequences, be they loss of television privileges, loss of me as a playmate for a while, a time out in their room, or going to bed early. If a child gives me trouble at bedtime, they know that the consequence is that I will put them to bed without a story or without any extras--they will be put to bed and that will be that. Yes, some cry and whine and try to manipulate me, but I don't give in. And that is where parents go wrong.

If parents want to better their parenting skills by hiring a professional, I say more power to them. Perhaps this could be a future career for me.