Parenting: Kids Won't Listen!

This article came at the perfect time. I've felt like Tegegne just won't listen lately. Then I realized, thanks to this article, that I'm trying too hard. Reasoning with him, giving him a chance to talk back. I liked that they said that silence speaks louder than words.  

So, here's what they had to say...

If you're a parent living with small children, you may often feel like you're

invisible to your kids. After spending a day cajoling, reasoning, threatening and even screaming in an attempt to get your kids to behave, you may feel as if they never

listen to you, much less respond. But all that talking is precisely the problem. If you

feel like you're invisible, you're probably way too audible. When it comes to

discipline, silence often speaks louder than words.  

Many parents complicate the job of discipline by setting for themselves two goals instead of just one. Their first goal is to get the kids to do what they're supposed to do, which is

fine. But when kids don't respond right away, many parents add a second

goal: getting the youngsters to accept, agree with, or even like the

discipline. So Mom and Dad start reasoning, lecturing and explaining.

  ONE EXPLANATION IS FINE

All this extra talking accomplishes only two things—both of them bad.

First, it aggravates the kids, and second, it says to the children that they

really don't have to behave unless you can give them four or five reasons

why they should.

One explanation is fine. But the mistake many parents make is trying to

reason with their kids as if they were "little adults," and too often adult logic does not impress or motivate young children. Once you say "No" to an

obnoxious behavior, you should save your breath. Further pleading will

irritate you more and give the child a chance to continue the battle— and

the behavior.

(1-2-3-Magic, photo.)