How to Parent a Difficult Child

Parenting a difficult child is challenging, at best. Children who resist cooperating, refuse to listen or throw temper tantrums to get their way can be nearly impossible to control.

By establishing clear rules and assigning natural consequences to bad behavior, parents remove themselves from the discipline process and place the responsibility on the child.

Parenting in this way reduces the power struggles many parents and children face.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Fair rules your family can agree upon.
• Natural consequences that show the child what will happen if they make the wrong choice.

1. Explaining the Rules

   Establish clear rules (discuss and agree upon specific rules with your spouse, if applicable.) Explain the new rules to your child in a calm manner. Don't wait until the child is upset to introduce the rules.

2. Sad Child

   Create appropriate consequences that will occur if your child breaks a rule. Make sure he or she completely understands what will happen if the rules are broken. They need to understand that choosing the behavior means choosing the consequences. This method of parenting puts the responsibility on the child.

3. Be Consistent

   Follow through with every consequence you set up for making poor chooses. Consistency is the only way children will learn from their mistakes and avoid making the same poor choices repeatedly.

4. Teachable Moments

   Find teachable moments to talk to your kids about making the right decisions and about the consequences people face for making poor decisions.

Tips & Warnings

• Natural consequences are often the best way to help kids learn from their choices.

• Avoid being a friend instead of a parent to your child.