Parenting kids with out-of-control emotions is difficult. If you’re frazzled and your emotions flare up, I have a solution for you and your children.
Out-of-Control Tempers
Before I tell you more, here are 3 questions:
Are you shouting at one another and feeling shame?
Are you or your children sad or depressed?
Are you anxious that your family will get the COVID-19 virus?
Did you answer “Yes” to any of the questions? If so, this slide share is just what you need. I suggest you practice it and experience how it works. Then teach it to your children.
How the Emotion Scale Works
No one knows when the pandemic will end. This makes some people jumpy and anxious. Others are yearning to see family members. Many want our governors to open-up our schools. Children long to see their teachers and friends. Parents need to work, afford food, and pay rent. Not knowing leads us to out-of-control feelings.
Make It a Habit!
With this simple parenting tool, quickly turn overwhelming emotions like, rage, anxiety, depression, and shame into more peaceful feelings. Use this Emotion Scale to decrease emotional stress and increase family harmony.
Our Melting Pot Culture is filled with racial and ethnic treasures. When we extend a hand in friendship to one another, opportunities flow-in. But it can be scary.
Cross Cultural Invitations
Extend a Hand with an Invite
Making friends can be risky.
Don’t be shy. Just be frisky,
Smile kindly big and bright.
Extend your hand with an invite,
That crosses cultures and you will see,
Your new friend is filled with glee.
Once that door is open, barriers can be overcome, friendships can begin, and appreciation for our sameness and differences can blossom.
Friendship Ice Breakers
Invite Friendships with Flowers
Everyone is responsible to extend a hand in friendship. There are fun and easy ways to break the ice with invitations like:
Like a ghost, the unseen virus threatens everyone. It isolates kids from their friends. Parents sense the deep loneliness invading their children. They feel it too.
The news exposes violence in the streets. Riots divide us. Can anything bring all peoples together when the pandemic is over?
Today’s post shouts, “Yes!”
How Families Connect
In a simple video you will find a cure for loneliness, disconnectedness, and hatred. You’ll find how:
Parents can influence children.
Adults can expand their comfort zones.
Individuals can overcome loneliness.
People can learn to connect.
Everyone can belong.
The solutions within this video are different. They are not one-sided. Everyone is responsible and it’s easy. It comes down to one word and it doesn’t start with “L.”
Hope: Families Brainstorm Specific Plans
We are about to conquer the virus. Vaccines are multiplying. Hope is in the air. It’s time to plan.
Let this 3 minute video help you. Then brainstorm what you and your family can do. Start making specific plans and when the time comes, enjoy making friends.
Mothers meltdown when they’re stressed, overworked, and exhausted. When patience flies out the window, rage stomps through the door. The yelling begins.
“Who left their dirty dishes in the sink?”
“Who spilled juice all over the floor?”
“Who left their bike in the rain?”
“You kids are so lazy!”
“Get in here and clean this mess up!”
Who can blame frazzled moms? They’re out of patience, energy, and practical solutions. Yelling comes easy and it works when kids jump up to help.
But when rage happens too often, kids get used to it. They stop jumping up. They pout and fume inside. They blame the yeller.
Unless moms solve the problems with a practical plan, rage will stamp out good will and everyone will be angry. Home life becomes miserable.
Problem Solving Plan for Kids' Chores:
Write chores on separate cards for each child to complete before dinner. Lay the cards on the kitchen counter. You can make chore cards for different days of the week or for regular daily chores.
Chore Cards Name Each Child's Task
Lined 4" X 6" Chore Cards work well too. They don't have to be fancy.
Sample Chores for Kids:
Clean sink and counter after snacks.
Do homework.
Make bed.
Put toys away.
Feed animals.
The chores you choose are up to you. Why not involve the kids in creating the list at a family meeting? When kids have input, they're more likely to cooperate.
You may even choose to create a chore card for after dinner cleanup.
Clear table.
Put leftovers away.
Scrape dishes.
Put dishes in dishwasher.
Empty Garbage.
Be Reasonable:
Don't add so many chores that kids can't relax or play. They need both.
Avoid discouraging your child by adding chores that are too difficult.
Let teachers know when their homework load is turning your child's love for learning into hate for school.
Advantages of Chore Cards:
The beauty of Chore Cards is parents don't need to remind kids what to do. Kids just look at the cards and complete the tasks on their own time.
Chore Cards are an easy way to build a family team and teach kids the skills they need for life.
The entitled child believes everything should go his way. He acts like he’s the king of the universe. Justin was such a boy.
Whenever Justin’s younger brother, Seth, wouldn’t play Justin’s video games with him, he’d punch Seth and yell, “I hate you!” When his mom scolded Justin, he’d sass back, “You always take Seth’s side,” then slam his bedroom door.
If Justin was your son, would you want to hit him? Would you yell, “I’m sick and tired of your angry behavior!” and preach the same old lecture?
Consider having a conversation with Justin when both of you are calm.
Teaching the Entitled Child How to Be Realistic
Use yourself as an example. It might go something like this:
Mom: Remember when I arranged a birthday party for Grandpa?
Justin: Yah.
Mom: I was frustrated because only three of our family members came. I really felt mad inside. I wanted to tell those who didn’t come what I thought of them.
Justin: Did you?
Mom: No, because I remembered something Grandpa taught me as a child. He’d say, “Sally, you’re not the Queen of the Universe. Things don’t have to go your way.”
Justin: How did that help you?
Mom: Can you guess?
Justin: No.
Mom: Because if I was the queen, I could make everybody do what I want.
Justin: But you’re not the queen so you couldn't force everyone to come to Grandpa's party.
Mom: That’s right. How might that thought help you?
Justin: I’m not the King of the Universe so things don't have to go my way either.
Mom: Right. What about Seth not playing your video games?
Justin: Yah.
Mom: How can we remind ourselves that we’re not the king or queen of the universe?
Justin: Let’s make 2 signs that say, “I’m Not the King,” and “I’m Not the Queen” and post them on the fridge.
Mom: And every time we stop ourselves from losing our tempers let’s make a tally mark on our signs.
Conclusion for Helping Entitled Kids Become Reasonable
Entitled kids need to know that life isn’t fair, doesn’t cater to what they want, and can be disappointing at times. You can teach them with reasonable self-talk how to be more rational about life. None of us is the king or queen of the universe. Things often don't go our way. Sometimes we need to be patient and accept that fact. And sometimes it becomes a challenge to creatively overcome the problem.
As the parent, you are the best one to teach him this lesson by being reasonable yourself and having good discussions with him. Start with a true story about when you were angry and irrational. He won't feel like you're pointing a finger at him and he'll like spending private time with you.
Aggressive kids, like Joey aren't liked. He hated waiting in line at the water fountain. He'd shove the kids lined up ahead of him. They'd fall forward like dominoes. The first child always hit his face while drinking. Joey laughed. I visited his parents and had a glimpse into Joey's life at home.
The father put his wife down several times during our conversation. She looked straight into my eyes but said nothing. Tears ran down her face.
When parents model meanness, children pick it up. Joey was mean. He didn't know how to relate to others.
I found out that Joey's dad was too busy to spend time with Joey. Joey didn't feel important. He didn't feel love from his dad. As we ended the meeting, Joey's father promised to spend time with him. He and his wife decided to work on their relationship too.
Parents Must Model How Children Can Assert Themselves
Teaching children how to assert themselves, speak up with respect, and be friendly starts at home. Parents must model how to communicate well. If they don't know how, they can learn. The following article will show how.
1. An empowering formula for teaching kids assertiveness skills
2. 5 assertive role-plays to practice at the dinner table
3. A fun family activity
4. An assertive poem for kids
How Joey Became Assertive
Joey told me with a big smile that his dad playfully put shaving cream on his face and let him shave it off with an empty razor. It made a real difference. Joey, over a matter of weeks, stopped shoving kids and started making friends. A greater respect developed between Joey's parents. Soon they were ready to learn the Assertiveness Formula within this article:
You can raise assertive children by practicing the formula within your family. Advise your kids to use it with others too. If you do, they'll learn to speak up for themselves, make friends, and become respectful communicators too.
Watch our brief video on assertiveness:
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OPEN-MINDED KIDS ARE SKILLED THINKERS. They learn to see more than one side of issues, problems, and discussions. They think bigger than one-sided kids.
How Sophie Opened Her Mind
I spoke with a 4th grade girl, named Sophie, (Identity concealed) who told me how she changed her mind. Her teacher asked, “Should school be year-round?” Sophie said a loud, “No!”
But the teacher told the class to study both sides. Sophie did her research. This is what she found that could happen if school was year-round:
The school day would be shorter.
There would be more but shorter vacations.
There would be fun after-school programs.
Daycare wouldn’t cost parents so much because of the after-school programs. The 3-month summer vacation would be eliminated so no need for daycare then either.
Teachers wouldn’t need to waste time reviewing what the children forgot due to the summer vacations.
Sophie opened her mind to these new ideas. She decided “Yes,” school should be year-round.
Sophie had an open-minded teacher who asked open-minded questions. She taught kids to see issues from both sides. Each child was free to come up with their own conclusions.
The Difference between Open Minds and Closed Minds
Close-Minded Thinkers Won't Listen to New Ideas
Open-minded children don’t try to win arguments. They avoid stubbornly sticking to their own viewpoint. They are willing to change their opinions with new information.
Closed-minded kids won’t listen to others’ ideas. They believe they already know what’s best.
How Parents Raise Kids with Open-Minded Discussions
Sample Question: Should Parents Make Kids Try
New Foods?
Be the parent who uses discussions to open your kids’ minds. Discuss topics that interest them. Get them to consider both the side they favor and the one they disagree with. When they have enough information, ask them what they favor now and why. If you do, they'll become BIGGER thinkers.
For more parenting strategies and stories to raise your children's consciousness, read full article at:
Kids with curious mindsets are bound to enjoy interesting lives. As parents you can nurture wonder and a thirst for knowledge in your youngsters. In today's parenting gift you will receive a checklist of 10 ways to boost your child's intellectual curiosity.
You Will Find Out What To:
Say when your child asks about a topic.
Answer when you want to promote his questions.
Do to encourage his enthusiasm.
Curious Learners Search for Answers
Some parents do to much to help. Others show little or no interest. Being balanced in your words and actions is the key. It's fun too.
Pick up your parenting checklist by inserting the code word:
THINK OF HANDLING STUBBORN CHILDREN LIKE METAL BEADS AND A MAGNET. Your child's stubborn behaviors are the metal beads. Your reactions are the magnet. Each stubborn behavior can cause a swift and powerful clash if you let yourself explode with emotion. This doesn't have to happen.
Consider Using Logic by Asking Yourself 3 Questions:
1. What are the consequences to our relationship if I consistently blow-up?
When I continually react with anger, his stubbornness hardens even more. Respect dies.
2. What are better ways of reacting to his stubbornness?
I can use a kind, firm, and self-controlled voice. With time and repetition, mutual respect could grow.
3. Are there specific ways to be the respectful parent and turn his headstrong behaviors into cooperative ones?
If you draw a blank, watch our 1 minute video below. You'll find 5 solutions you can start using today.
Please remember, no parent is perfect. We all get over-stressed and lose our tempers. Don't get down on yourself if this happens to you. Just reconfirm your commitment to be a respectful parent.
One more thing, you CAN make the magnetic pull between you and your child into a pleasant and positive relationship.
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