[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”Fullwidth Post Title Header” _builder_version=”4.9.4″ background_color=”#f7f7f7″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_start=”rgba(255,255,255,0.3)” background_color_gradient_end=”rgba(33,51,101,0)” parallax=”on” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” box_shadow_style=”preset3″ global_module=”767″ saved_tabs=”all” locked=”on” collapsed=”on”][et_pb_fullwidth_post_title author=”off” date=”off” comments=”off” featured_placement=”background” text_background=”on” text_bg_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.5)” admin_label=”Fullwidth Post Title” _builder_version=”4.9.4″ title_font=”Playfair Display|900|||on||||” title_text_align=”center” title_text_color=”#213365″ title_font_size=”55px” meta_font=”Poppins|500|on||||||” meta_text_align=”center” meta_font_size=”14px” meta_letter_spacing=”2px” meta_line_height=”1.8em” background_color=”#f7f7f7″ background_color_gradient_direction=”245deg” custom_padding=”130px||250px|||” custom_padding_tablet=”150px||150px” custom_padding_phone=”50px||50px” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” title_font_size_tablet=”45px” title_font_size_phone=”40px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” border_radii=”on|5px|5px|5px|5px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”RGBA(0,0,0,0)” box_shadow_style=”preset3″ locked=”on”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_post_title][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Post Content” _builder_version=”4.9.0″][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ admin_label=”Post Content” _builder_version=”4.9.0″][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Introduction” _builder_version=”4.5.1″ text_font=”Poppins||||||||” locked=”on”]<\/p>\n
Children can be some of the most delightful, uplifting, and imaginative little characters. A lot of children are born with a wonderful sense of creating and doing\u2014”I can be anything I want to be when I grow up,” and \u201cI am deserving of happiness.\u201d This makes for confident adults who go all out and get what they want.<\/strong><\/p>\n
High self-esteem and confidence are things that every parent should cultivate in their child, but this can be taken too far, and a child with an overinflated ego can be a real<\/em> handful.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would like\u201d turns into \u201cI want<\/em> that toy now even if my brother is playing with it\u201d or \u201cIt’s not fair, I should win all the time\u201d; even, \u201cDaddy, you should do everything I say.\u201d Some children are downright obnoxious, ungrateful, and entitled.<\/p>\n
Is your child showing some (or all) of these characteristics? Instead of losing your temper or caving to their misbehavior, we’ve researched several ways you can have a breakthrough with your kids\u2014so that you can raise children who are happy and confident, but also gracious and humble.<\/p>\n
\nSo, how do you reach a breakthrough with your kid’s selfish, overbearing behavior? First, understand your child’s perspective. In order to gain independence, children will test their parents and try to make things go “their way.” <\/strong><\/h5>\n
To get through to misbehaving children, you’ll need to show them that while you understand their point of view, their current behavior is having a stressful effect on others and is not the best way to get their desired result.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Young children can be challenging to deal with, but is raising kids ever easy? Let’s take a look at some possible root causes for your child\u2019s annoying behavior, and what options you have to fix it.<\/p>\n
\u200b<\/p>\n
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Why Do Kids Act Out?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
Most of us consider ourselves rational people. When we are younger, we assume we know best, and it’s only when we look back that we realize how foolish and immature we were at the time. Your child likely feels that they know enough to make their own decisions.<\/p>\n
This is especially true if your child is old enough to start school. They\u2019re gaining knowledge daily\u2014they now know basic arithmetic and are beginning to master literacy too. They can make their own opinions. They\u2019ve likely begun to form relationships outside of the family circle and may start leaning on the advice of their best friend, or group of friends, more than they do yours.<\/p>\n
All of these new skill sets and relationships, as well as your child\u2019s growing knowledge and maturity, are good things, but will probably also bring new ways for them to drive you crazy. Remember that between 2 and 10 years old, kids are still learning how to socialize and get along with one another, while also learning how to exert their own autonomy. <\/strong><\/p>\n
One of the ways they do this is by making mistakes and doing the unacceptable\u2014or by doing the unacceptable on purpose and figuring out the consequences.<\/p>\n
Children like to experiment with authority. Ask a child to do something, and they won\u2019t do it in order to see what happens. <\/strong><\/p>\n
If your daughter is picking on her little brother and you tell her to stop, she may wait until you\u2019re out of sight and start all over, or she may simply keep going. Never mind telling you child to wash their hands after using the bathroom. That isn\u2019t going to happen without at least a bit of whining.<\/p>\n
Kids in this age range are gaining awareness of the larger world outside the home, and they\u2019re excited to explore their place in it. That isn\u2019t a bad thing, even if that exploration frequently gets them into mischief.<\/p>\n
Before we look into correcting a child\u2019s obnoxious actions or attitude, let’s examine what is typical behavior for someone this age.<\/p>\n
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The Behavior of a Child<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
Here is a simple truth: you cannot expect perfection from a child.<\/strong> Do you never give in to impulse or make a bad choice? Are you pleasant, well-mannered and patient every day? If you said yes, you\u2019re the only person alive who can. Don\u2019t expect a kid to be able to meet that kind of standard.<\/p>\n
Most children are playful and happy, but not 24\/7. Some may be more reserved, or prone to getting overwhelmed and upset, and even the happy ones will have their ups and downs. As they \u2018re learning the complex and often baffling rules of social interaction, they may find they\u2019re not able to make friends with or be liked by everyone they meet.<\/p>\n
Even if you try to shield your child from pain, they will eventually realize that life has its wins and its losses. Some of those losses will leave them hurt or disappointed, but that\u2019s perfectly natural, and they\u2019ll have to learn how to deal with it\u2014hopefully in a healthy way.<\/p>\n
Children have a curiosity that is both admirable and exhausting. Parents often want to encourage this curiosity, but become stressed and fatigued after hours and days of non-stop questions. Sometimes your kids can see that this messes with you, so they probe a little more to see what happens.<\/p>\n
As noted above, some children are already naturally reserved at this age, but most aren\u2019t shy about enthusiastically displaying their affection. Holding hands, big hugs, and kissing are all frequently done. It\u2019s best to follow their lead on this and reciprocate as much as you can.<\/p>\n
A child\u2019s physical and emotional development, and the environment in which they\u2019re raised can have a profound and lasting effect on the way your child comports themselves.<\/p>\n
Now that we\u2019ve looked at the behavior of a typical child, let’s discuss some of the most common issues you may experience and how to overcome them.<\/p>\n
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Illustrations courtesy of <\/i>Shutterstock<\/strong>.<\/i><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n
This article was originally published on <\/i>https:\/\/www.nevertherightword.com<\/i><\/span><\/a><\/strong>. If this article appears on any other site other than <\/i>https:\/\/www.nevertherightword.com<\/i><\/span><\/a><\/strong> without clear referencing it is a violation of the copyright owned by <\/i>https:\/\/www.nevertherightword.com<\/i><\/span><\/a><\/strong>.<\/i><\/p>\n
This article may contain affiliate links. That means if you click and buy a product, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. <\/span><\/em>Never the Right Word is a participant in the Awin Affiliates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to participating merchants.<\/span><\/em>\u00a0For more information, please view our <\/span><\/em>Privacy Policy and Earnings Disclosure page.<\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
What Bad Behavior is Your Kid Displaying?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
First off, it’s imperative not to crush your child\u2019s enthusiasm. Most kids have exuberant energy that\u2019s wonderful, but exhausting, and will sometimes get out of hand. If you need to discipline them, make sure it\u2019s about their actions and not their energy in general. If you want your child to be happy, then allow them to be happy!<\/strong><\/p>\n
That\u2019s not to say you shouldn\u2019t teach your children how to be calm and quiet. There are times when being an exuberant chatterbox is inappropriate or impolite. Simply take care to give your child plenty of time to be their own energetic, curious selves.<\/p>\n
That said, let\u2019s take a look at some bad behaviors a child might display.<\/p>\n
Moodiness<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Besides getting angry too easily, your child may also change moods without warning. Again, mood swings are normal for a growing child who is still learning to handle their own emotions. Swings between sadness and happiness, anger and confusion are common, but they shouldn\u2019t control your lives. If they do, you will need to address it.<\/p>\n
Anger<\/strong><\/h5>\n
You may find that out of nowhere, your child has perfected the art of back-talk. They may become frustrated very easily or speak vindictively of others. An angry child is nothing to worry about if it happens once in a while, but pay attention if they\u2019re having frequent outbursts or have developed a hair-trigger temper.<\/p>\n
Just as kids learn to follow more complex instructions, they also learn how to defy them.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
To figure out boundaries, children experiment to see what they can and can’t get away with.<\/p>\n
These are just a few common behaviors for a child. Some will experience them sooner, some later. Some won’t have these problems at all but may experience other unique issues, all of which are perfectly normal. Now that we have identified some common issues, we can look at how to fix them.<\/p>\n
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Fixing the Problem<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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A key thing to remember is that each child is unique. Some of these solutions may not work for you, but it’s essential that you don\u2019t give up or give in to frustration. Remember also that some children have medical reasons for the way they act.<\/p>\n
If the behavioral problems persist or become more than you can handle, don\u2019t hesitate to contact your pediatrician. If they can\u2019t help, they can usually refer you to a children\u2019s counselor or another behavioral specialist who can.<\/p>\n
The focus of your concern should be your child and what\u2019s best for them. If that means taking them to a behavioral expert, then there\u2019s no shame in that. It doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re a bad parent, or that your child is a bad kid.<\/p>\n
You should never be made to feel ashamed for seeking help.<\/p>\n
So barring the need for a professional, where does that leave us? What can you do at home to help fix difficult, obnoxious behaviors?<\/p>\n
Set firm boundaries<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Kids are always looking for loopholes and ways to squeak out of things they don\u2019t like. If you don\u2019t give clear instructions as to what they should do (or not do) and follow up on them, they\u2019ll certainly take advantage. Avoid ambiguity and make the boundaries obvious. By doing so, you can often stop a lot of bad behavior before it starts.<\/p>\n
Keep things positive<\/strong><\/h5>\n
When your child is irritable and moody, it feels contagious, but you can\u2019t let it get to you. Adding your bad mood to theirs will only make things worse for both of you. Set a good example and take the positive route.<\/p>\n
Keep communication open<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Unless your child is a toddler, communicating with them should be your go-to. In simple terms, explain why your rules exist and why their behavior isn\u2019t acceptable. It can be frustrating when you tell your kids not to do something but don\u2019t tell them why (\u201cbecause I said so\u201d isn\u2019t a very enlightening response). A kid\u2019s default reason is usually, \u201cbecause Mommy\/Daddy is being unfair.\u201d That\u2019s a quick way to make your child resent you. Tell them the truth. Be tough when it\u2019s needed but talk it out first. It does little good to punish your kids if they don\u2019t know why.<\/p>\n
As with many things in life, the best way to parent is to be empathetic. It may not be easy to remember how the world looked when you were a child but give it your best efforts. By understanding how a child thinks, you will better understand why they behave as they do. Once you\u2019ve taken a good look at your child\u2019s thought process, you can use that knowledge to tailor your solution.<\/p>\n
Parenting is hard. We\u2019re all figuring things out as we go. We aren\u2019t perfect, and neither are our children, no matter how much the world may pressure us to be. What\u2019s more, kids aren\u2019t puppets who can be forced to act certain ways; they\u2019re real, growing people, and when it comes down to it, the way they behave is their own personal choice.<\/p>\n
That doesn\u2019t mean that you should give up and let your child run rampant, but hopefully, it gives you a measure of comfort. Any loving parent wants to do what is best for their children. If you love them and do the best you can, you\u2019re already a wonderful parent.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider admin_label=”Divider” _builder_version=”3.21.2″ locked=”on”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=”Conclusion” _builder_version=”4.4.5″ text_font=”Poppins||||||||” locked=”on”]<\/p>\n
At Never the Right Word, our aim is to give you practical examples of how to handle life\u2019s difficult conversations. If you have an awkward situation that you\u2019d like example templates for, request a topic here<\/b><\/span><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re interested in further reading, we\u2019ve also included links to our trusted resources and related posts below. To find out more\u00a0about NTRW<\/b><\/span><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0our\u00a0recommended tools<\/b><\/span><\/a>,<\/b> you can do that\u00a0here<\/b>.<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lastly, if you found this content helpful or want to share your own examples, let us know in the comments. We\u2019d also be delighted if you shared this article and joined us on social media too!<\/p>\n
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