Don’t make control a tug-of-war
Raising your child can sometimes feel like a tug-of-war over control. For a more joyful outcome, avoid turning parent/child interactions into a “Who’s the boss here?” situation. Joy Kids Universe agrees with child psychologists who have this to say about managing child control issues.
- Recognize controlling behavior. A child with control issues only feels important if he or she can get you to do what he wants. This can show itself in ways such as ignoring instructions, turning on the “silent treatment”, throwing tantrums when reprimanded, or refusing to apologize. Sometimes, these can be signs of deep-seated insecurities.
- Don’t play the game. Dominating a controlling child may solve the problem at hand, but not the long-term one. Instead, step back and disengage because it “takes two to tango”. One way to do this is by saying it once, then walking away. If the child refuses to follow instructions, let the consequence follow until the child learns that you mean business.
- Stay cool, like Casey Rose, and be prepared. Get to know what triggers your child’s attempts at control, and be prepared for them. This may require a lot of self-control, but make a plan for dealing with these situations, then stick to it. Psych yourself up so you’re ready when it happens. Just like the Joybug helps Casey Rose, you need your spouse and other family members to help you with ideas and encouragement.
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