The most manipulative but effective thing Iโve ever done in my life was when I read an article about how children moderate their behavior to protect their self-identity, so if a child believes heโs smart, for example, heโll intentionally study and try to do well to protect his image of himself.
Anyway, I would pull kids aside with behavioral issues at church and tell them, โDavid (obviously fake name), youโre such a kind person and such a good listener. I can see that in you. Thank you for always listening.โ โLittle Annie, thank you for taking such good care of the babies around you. Youโre going to be such a good big sister. Can you be in charge of watching Sally?โ
They would ALWAYS behave afterward. ALWAYS. Worked like a charm. Morally questionable because it wasnโt initially true, but I kind of willed it into existence. Tbf, I did think that they had that in them or I wouldnโt have tried.
Will publish longitudinal results of this method once my kid is old enough to report back.