Life as a parent can be extremely rewarding and filled with some of the most memorable occasions you’ll ever experience. You’ll watch your little ones grow, hear their first words and steer them in the right direction as they make their way through life. However, things aren’t always so peachy.
As a parent, you’re expected to care for your child, help develop their skills and encourage appropriate behaviors, all while dealing with some of the most common and troublesome behaviors in childhood. At Rice Psychology Group, we understand things can often be difficult, which is why our psychologists want to help you cope with the four biggest challenges you might face.
Parenting isn’t always easy, but with some hard work, you can learn to improve much of what is troubling you.
The Back Talk
When faced with lack of respect in the shape of back talk, parents are often tempted to shut it down immediately to restore authority. However, it’s best to use this defiant behavior as a way to teach your children a valuable skill: to respectfully voice their concerns and state their case. Establish positive communication by asking your child why he/she feels the need to disagree and ask them to do so in a respectful way. If the matter is non-negotiable, calmly tell your children the topic is not open for a discussion. And know that most kids have a very hard time accepting the age-old parental “because I said so.”
Whining
Whining and children tend to go hand-in hand, but what’s the best way to deal with it? According to Rebecca Eanes, the writer behind PositiveParents.com, you should follow these four steps:
- Listen and acknowledge your child.
- Try to find the reason behind their whining – are they hungry, tired, restless or used to getting their way?
- Ensure that you’re spending enough time laughing, giggling and connecting with your child.
- Encourage your child to properly vocalize the reason behind their behavior in a strong voice.
Not Listening
It isn’t uncommon for children to tune you out and refuse to cooperate. This often has to do with the way you try to get your child to listen: nagging, lecturing, demanding, etc. Instead of ordering your child to do something, use phrases like, “I want you to…” instead of, “Will you please…” We also recommend giving your child plenty of time to follow directions instead of asking them to do something “immediately.”
Instead of ordering your child to do something, use phrases like, “I want you to…” instead Share on X
Aggression
If your child has hit his/her friends or committed other aggressive acts, don’t react aggressively. Instead of spanking, have your child sit on your lap or next to you to help them calm down. Once this happens, talk with your child and ask how he/she plans to solve the problem to teach them how to be more rational and solve problems creatively and in a more civilized manner.
If your child has hit a friend or committed other aggressive acts, don’t react aggressively. Share on X
We Can Help
At Rice Psychology Group, we know that you’re ready to deal with any parenting challenges, but it’s also important to voice your concerns as a parent. Our parent consultation services are designed to help you find the techniques that will allow peace back into your home and restore your confidence as a parent. For more information about our services, don’t hesitate to contact us in Tampa today.
