Raising a stubborn kid is nowhere easy. And if you’re reading this, chances are you’re raising a stubborn one yourself.
We all know how hard it can get to parent a stubborn child. But you can master the art of parenting a stubborn child by following some simple tips.
Here’s how!
Give them a little control
Allow them to make choices on their own. It doesn’t mean that you completely leave them to make decisions, but you can ask for their advice and help. You can take their opinion regarding clothing, what they want to eat, etc. This gives them a sense of authority.
While you want to allow your children to be themselves and make their own decisions, you must also establish some ground rules. Like having a set routine for doing homework right after school, bedtime at the same time every night. This will develop a routine, making them feel more independent.
Be firm but not commanding with them
Rather than intimidating them or picking fights with them about what they should or should not have done, be inspiring with your words.
Make sure you stick to the same rules and expectations for your child. As this will help them understand what is expected of them and also make sure that you are consistent in your approach.
Also, show genuine interest in their development. This will help them feel accepted and loved. And it will also help them do well in school.
Teach them by example
Don’t wait for your child to ask you what he or she should do. Show them. As a parent, you have the most influence over your child and what he or she learns. You should model the traits you want your child to have.
If you are patient and kind, so will be your children. If you love reading, they will love reading too. If you play games with them, they will want to play games with their friends as well.
Be consistent in your parenting style
This means that you should be consistent in how you discipline your child — whether it’s through timeouts or other methods. And this should go on for the same behavior throughout the day and week.
Otherwise, your child might think he has a right to misbehave. The reason being he knows his parents will let him off easy on one occasion but punish him harshly for similar behavior later in the day or week.
Sometimes ignore their stubbornness and let them learn on their own
It’s a tough lesson to learn, but sometimes that’s the only way we can teach our kids how to be more flexible and understanding. When they’re young, it’s easier to just let them figure things out on their own, because they don’t have any preconceived notions about what is right or wrong. But as they grow up and become more aware of other people’s perspectives.
So when you try harder than ever to get your kid to do what you want him or her to do, but he or she keeps resisting anyway, give up for now and say that you’ll try again another time. Don’t make it seem like it was your fault that he or she didn’t listen this time around because you were so insistent on getting it done correctly now that you wanted it done yesterday!
It may sound like a lot of work for one conversation with one stubborn kid, but this is necessary.
Conclusion
Not to forget a stubborn kid is forceful, energetic, and determined. Their uncompromising attitude can be difficult at times. Still, you can help your child grow into a resilient, self-reliant, and free-thinking being with compassion and regularity. How? Just by following in a few steps listed here.
Also read: What to do if your baby is crying too much?