Your child cries because a game didn’t go their way. They become frustrated when a puzzle feels too difficult. A change in plans can turn an ordinary afternoon into a storm of tears, yelling, or “I can’t do it!” As a parent, you may want to make the difficult feeling disappear as quickly as possible.
You ask your child to put their shoes on. Once. Twice. Then again. They’re still playing, you’re already late, and you can feel your patience disappearing. Before you know it, you hear yourself say, “If you don’t put those shoes on right now, we’re not going anywhere.” Maybe you’ve said something similar. “If you do
If your child has ever kicked you during a tantrum, lashed out at a sibling over a toy, or suddenly used their feet when you said “no,” you may have wondered, Why does my child behave this way? You might also feel frustrated, embarrassed, or unsure about what to do next. You know this behavior
Your child screams because you said no. They throw a toy across the room, stomp their feet, or shout, “I hate you!”3. You pause, take a deep breath, and try to stay calm, yet you may still be wondering, “Why does my child seem to get angry so easily?” What am I supposed to do
If your child seems to have a running list of everyone else’s mistakes, you’re not alone. One minute they’re happily playing; the next, they rush over with an urgent announcement: “He took my toy!” “She didn’t clean up!” “He got two cookies!” After the tenth report, it can be tempting to say, “Stop tattling.” But
There are days when it feels as though your child has decided to disagree with everything you say. “Put your shoes on.”“No.” “Time to leave the playground.”“I don’t want to!” “Let’s get ready for bed.”“No! I’m not tired!” After enough of these moments, you may start wondering what is happening. Is your child becoming defiant?
Your child runs over with a picture they have just finished. You look at it, smile, and say the words that come naturally: “Good job!” Maybe your child has just completed a puzzle, put on their shoes independently, learned a new word, or kept trying after something didn’t work. Again, you want to celebrate the
Your child is crying because you said it was time to leave the park. You ask what happened, but instead of answering, they scream, “I don’t know!” Maybe you’ve seen a similar moment at home. Your child becomes frustrated when a block tower falls, gets angry when a sibling takes a toy, or suddenly hides
You tell your child that it’s time to switch off the TV. “Five more minutes!” You say it’s time to stop. “No!” Suddenly, what started as a calm request has escalated into tears, arguing, shouting, or an intense power struggle. If this sounds familiar, you may have wondered whether you are supposed to be more
There are parenting moments when you know what you should do, but doing it feels completely different. Your toddler is screaming because you said no. Your child hits when a toy is taken away. You ask for shoes, pajamas, or cleanup for what feels like the tenth time, and suddenly your own patience is disappearing.
