First, ask yourself if you have taught the expectation to your children through parent demonstration? If so, your children will most likely be prepared, and receptive, to your teaching.

The steps to Preventive Teaching are quite simple:

• Describe what you would like - before your children can do what you want, they must know what it is you expect. Break the skill down into specific steps or concepts. Make it simple and make sure your child understands.
• Give a reason - kids are much more likely to comply with what you say when you give reasons for them to do so. If the reasons are age-appropriate and meaningful to the child, they are more likely to accept what you are teaching.
• Practice - they may feel embarrassed or think that practicing is a waste of time, but practice actually eases embarrassment and raises a child's self-confidence in their abilities when they are faced with the actual situation. Remember that if you're enthusiastic about practicing, your kids will be more willing to participate. Practice should be fun, yet realistic.
• Offer praise - remember to praise areas that your child did well in and encourage your child to work harder in areas that still need improvement.
• Offer preventive prompts - experience adds skills, and when your child is faced with a similar situation, you can provide a quick reminder. Remember that prompts are different than warnings-warning are given when a behavior is already occurring; prompts are given beforehand.