Many parents do not necessarily want to control their children, they just want to channel some of their children's energy and motivation into more constructive activities. This chapter focuses primarily on behavioral and cognitive techniques for redirecting children's motivation toward potentially growthful and therapeutic activities. Additionally, several techniques in the chapter have an interpersonal focus, designed to shift interpersonal attitudes and behaviors. It is important for parents and counselors to be sensitive to children's questions about why they should or should not engage in particular behaviors. This is because "why" questions are questions about contingency and motivation. The purpose of using redefinitions in counseling is to help young clients let go of maladaptive erroneous beliefs that restrict their ability to resolve personal problems and conflicts. Similarly, redefinitions are useful with parents whose beliefs and definitions of particular situations are restricting their ability to creatively solve family problems.