Sometimes, it’s natural as parents to look around at other families and think what are they doing right that I’m doing wrong? Just remember that every family and every kid is going to learn and grow at their own pace. Everyone’s going to have easy patches and rough patches – and there’s nothing wrong with struggling when it comes to parenting! If you need a hand with your extra-special little one, don’t worry. We’re here to help! Here are some tips on how to deal with difficult child.
How To Deal With A Difficult Child – Tantrums
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Every parent’s nightmare is to be in the middle of a public place and suddenly your toddler is on the floor, kicking and screaming. Some kids can melt down at the slightest inconvenience, and once they’ve started there’s no end in sight.
So how to deal with such difficult child behaviour like a tantrum? Can you manage and prevent tantrums so you’re not stuck sitting on the floor of the shopping centre with a screaming two-year-old for hours?
What Is A Tantrum?
Firstly, understand what a tantrum is. Tantruming is just a young child’s way of communicating big, big emotions. Whether they’re angry, sad, disappointed – they’re just trying to tell you how they feel! However, when a toddler starts seeing their tantrums reinforced with rewards and bribes, they learn that tantruming is the best way to get something highly valuable.
The first step to knowing how to deal with a difficult child is to stop rewarding the tantrum. This can be a scary idea for a lot of parents, as this process means that tantrums are going to get worse before they get better. However, it’s also a critical step in getting your toddler dissuaded from tantruming.
Next, try giving your child more of a chance to communicate their feelings in a healthy way. Relate to them about their emotions and help give them language to describe their feelings, such as “I can see that you feel really sad that tv time is over” or “I know you’re really mad that we can’t play with legos right now.” Remember that escalating your own behaviour will only reinforce their behaviour. When it comes to knowing how to deal with a difficult child – keep it calm, rational, and compassionate, and soon they’ll be saying what they feel, rather than screaming it.
Managing Difficult Children – How To Get Child To Eat
Kids are probably the most famously picky eaters in the world. It’s rare to find a toddler who’s happy to eat anything other than goldfish crackers and milk, so if that sounds like your little one, don’t feel discouraged.
Remember that young children tend to be very intuitive eaters – when they aren’t hungry, they won’t eat. When they are extra hungry, they’ll eat.
If they’re a healthy weight and their pediatrician isn’t concerned about their growth, you don’t need to worry that they’re starving.
You can encourage a more adventurous eater by offering them a wide variety of foods – even if they don’t eat them! Just having a new food on their plate starts the process of helping them grow comfortable eating it.
Sit with them at mealtimes and eat the same thing they’re eating, especially the new foods on their plate. It can take a long time for a picky eater to grow some adventurous impulses, but be patient and don’t rush them.
Remember that the goal is for them to develop a positive relationship with food, not just to get them to eat. Being forced to eat new foods – or being forced to eat at all – makes mealtime feel stressful, and only reinforces their hesitancy. Just relax and let them go at their pace – they’ll get there eventually!
How To Cope With A Difficult Child – Child Refuses To Go To Bed
The boundless energy and spirit of a child can be so energizing and uplifting. But when it’s bedtime, it’s the last thing you want! If every night your little one is bouncing off the walls, it might be time to reexamine the bedtime routine. It could be helpful to be more consistent in your routine, or to begin the routine earlier so they have a larger amount of time to wind down and settle.
Try to remove anything extra stimulating or exciting from bedtime. Avoid playing with toys or watching tv immediately before bed, and instead opt for quiet songs and calming books.
Try picking out the same two or three bedtime-themed books to read each evening while they get the hang of soothing themselves to bed independently.
If they act out or start trying to play, don’t reward the behaviour or provide further stimulation, or their behaviour will be reinforced!
What To Do When Your Child Refuses To Do Homework
Trying and trying to get your child to complete their school assignments can, at times, feel like a Herculean task. The constant bickering between parents and children about doing homework can put a huge strain on the parent-child relationship, and damage a child’s relationship with learning and school. But how can it be fixed?
Firstly, talk with your child’s teachers and ask about their behavior in class. If they’re struggling with the material in class, then working on their homework is probably very challenging and stressful. They may also be dealing with conflict at school with their classmates or teachers that’s inhibiting their ability to learn.
If there’s no other concerns at school, think about how you can make it easier for your child to do their work at home.
Do they have a quiet, comfortable space to work? Do they have time to do their work at a comfortable pace, without missing out on activities or family time? Do they have access to help or resources when they need it? Talk to your child about what might make them happier to do their homework, and figure out a plan that can help them manage their own school work rather than needing an adult to hound them about it.
Difficult Children – Rude Child
It seems like it all happens all at once – one day you have a happy, sweet little kid, and the next you’re getting backtalk and rude remarks from your child. It can be so frustrating to deal with poor manners from your children, and the snarky preteen and teenage years can seem to stretch on forever.
To mitigate an attitude problem, start with honest communication.
Sit down with your child and have a frank conversation about how it makes you feel when they speak to you that way and draw clear boundaries about what is and isn’t an appropriate way to speak to others.
This not only helps them understand what you expect of them, but also models a healthy way to set boundaries with others.
Next, attitude problems can often result from a need to feel grown and independent. Try giving your child more personal responsibility, and try treating them with more of an adult regard. Offering them a sense of control, respect, and responsibility may provide them with the sense of maturity they’re craving, and curb some of their bad attitude.
Overall, every family has their triumphs and their challenges. Remember that no matter what phase your child seems to be stuck in, it won’t last forever. You’re a caring, capable parent who now has the tools for how to deal with a difficult child. You can handle whatever speed bumps your child is throwing your way. You can do this!
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