I found the article very Interesting. It immediately called to mind a great quote from Eleanor Roosevelt which is “Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people”. There are great comments following the article as well.

That is the most on target advice ! Well done Linda. Yes, ignore bad behavior completely and the moment you see the desired behavior, reward it. The best way is to say and show it. "What a fantastic job picking up your toys!" "Nice way to keep those feet on the floor". "All right! You held my hand." Hugs, kisses, pats on the back, anything they love. If it is an especially difficult undesirable behavior to extinguish, you could hammer away at it with words, actions and tangible items such as stickers or reinforcing toys they love, but it's best saved for when the above route hasn't worked with some effort. Good luck!

Thanks everyone for your suggestions! I am thinking about Carlotta's suggestion of having him leave after a number of "misbehaviors". I am not sure that she has anyone who could pick him up and take him home, BUT I am wondering if a trip to the office to do his Time Out rather than in the classroom might do some good too. I mentioned before that mom doesn't think he "gets" the cause-effect thing, but if he doesn't, wouldn't he figure it out real quick if he sees others getting rewards and he doesn't?????? This little boy is also a twin to a non-Down Syndrome brother. The twin without Down doesn't have any problems with behavior. However, the twin with Down is fuctioning at approximately a 2 1/2 year old level, so it could be age related as Carlotta said. Thanks again, everyone, for your suggestions. I'll pass them along and see what kind of response I get.

Thanks Ladies...... Cat - I don't think the judge would have really listened to both sides if the claims BM made did not seem so outrageous and DH and I had not been collecting all of the information we did. BM in this case really took it way to far with the false allegations.... she claimed DH's entire family and myself and daughter were all against and abusing SD..... Of course the worse things were pointed against myself. But we had tons of things to counter as well..... pictures, dvd's of family events and vacations we took SD on, and the other things BM left as a paper trail.... letters from the school, daycares and doctor. It was extremely stressful to have to go through a BM trying to take away joint custody from my DH simply because he got married and to see all the lies and allegations.... BUT like the judge said - because DH got on that stand and said he did not want to take custody away from BM - he just wanted to have a peaceful relationship with his daughter and was willing to give BM another shot at trying to be mature - the judge as she put it is giving BM "custody probabtion" and hopefully BM will take her words to heart. We have been so much more peaceful at our home - and just to see SD be more peaceful when we pick her up or when she comes - lets us know that maybe the alienation for now has ceased. I just am hoping the situation remains peaceful for now - and this story may help someone else out in some kind of way.