Top 5 Tips for dealing with a stubborn child

25th February 2014

It’s a well-known fact that toddlers and teenagers are the age groups when, as a parent, you’re most likely to experience tantrums and stubbornness which can be rather tiresome and exhausting for both parties involved. Their tantrums can be relentless, making it easy to give in to them or give up on them. But to help you handle the situation better, we’ve come up with top 5 tips for dealing with a stubborn child so you can be better prepared next time you find yourself facing the wrath of your tenacious child…

1)      Stay calm

When your child starts misbehaving, keeping calm is essential. If you react to their bad behaviour by raising your voice or shouting and getting irate then your child will learn from your behaviour and think this is acceptable for them to behave in this way too. Remember, you are their role model so you should lead by example.

2)      Remove them from the situation

Whether the situation arises privately in the home or outside amongst the public, taking your child away from the situation when they start misbehaving will give them time to calm down and give you a chance to speak to them one-on-one and ask why they are behaving in this way, and try to find out if there are any underlying problems your child may be worrying about.

3)      Listen to them

Giving your child your undivided attention can not only help calm them down but also get to the root of the problem. Generally speaking, there is usually a reason why your child is misbehaving, sometimes they simply want your attention and they know this is a way to guarantee they get it, regardless of it being negatively. So make sure you sit down with them and listen to everything they have to say, let them do all the talking and don’t interrupt them.

4) Reward good behaviour

Do not let good behaviour go unrecognised. If they have done something that you’ve asked them to do, like pick their toys up off the floor, then this should be praised or rewarded. Likewise, if you would like them to do something then tell them the reward they will get if they do it, then this will be an incentive for them to behave and do as they have been asked.

5)      Patience and affection

Listening to your child’s needs and understanding them is key. Giving them your patience shows them you care whilst allowing them the time to calm down and tell you anything that is on their mind. This will also help you understand your child better and their character traits, so you’ll be able to recognise the signs that trigger these responses to avoid them from escalating.

So, next time you find your child misbehaving and acting stubbornly, try using these coping strategies to help both you and your child learn to deal with the situation better. This way, you can avoid getting angry and teach your child that there are better ways to communicate your frustrations. Remember at all times that you are your child’s role model, who they learn from every day, and showing them how to behave rather than telling them is the way forward if you want your children to be well mannered and behaved.