It can be incredibly frustrating when our kids don’t seem to listen to us, no matter how many times we ask them to do something.
Then you’re left wondering how to discipline a child without yelling at them – since that doesn’t seem to work well anyway.
So how does parenting without yelling work?
Read on to learn how to get kids to listen without yelling – and stomping your own feet!
How To Get Kids To Listen Without Yelling At Them All The Time
Strategies To Use When Learning How to Discipline A Child Without Yelling
One of the hardest parts of being a parent is knowing how to get kids to listen. It can be a tough nut to keep your cool when your child is acting out, oh boy, don’t I know it, but thankfully, here are some strategies you can definitely use to avoid raising your voice to your children.
Try using a calm, firm voice instead of yelling. It can be difficult to find the right balance when disciplining a child. You want to be firm enough to get your point across, but you don’t want to resort to yelling. If you’re looking for an alternative to yelling, try using a calm, firm voice instead. This will help your child know that you’re serious without getting scared or upset.
Make sure you have your child’s attention before you start speaking. Get down to their level and make eye contact. Parents oftentimes find themselves yelling when trying to discipline their children. I get it…it’s easy to get caught up in the emotion of the situation and forget how to properly communicate with our kids.
Even so, it’s important to remember that, as the parent, you are in control of your emotions. You have the ability to set the tone for how the situation will play out. If you can keep calm, it will be much easier for your child to do the same.
Start by getting down to your child’s level and making eye contact. This will help them know that you are serious and that they need to listen to what you have to say. Once you have their attention, explain what they did wrong and why it is important to obey rules.
Set clear limits and consequences for misbehavior ahead of time and follow through when those rules are broken. Let your child know what behaviors are expected and what the consequences will be if they choose to misbehave. Be consistent with your expectations and follow through with the consequences every time.
Try to avoid reacting in the moment by taking a few deep breaths, use essential oils, or count to 10 before you respond. If you need to, remove yourself from the situation until you can calm down. Once you’re calm, talk to your child about what happened and why their behavior was not acceptable. Help them come up with a plan for how they can do better next time. Give them some encouragement and let them know that you believe in their ability to make good choices.
If your child knows what will happen if they misbehave ahead of time, they will be more likely to obey rules (so long as you are actually following through with the punishment you outlined, and believe me, they WILL test you on that a couple times!)
Plus, if you can avoid reacting in the moment, you will be less likely to resort to yelling. So make sure to set clear limits when practicing and learning how to get kids to listen without yelling.
Keep your requests short and simple. If you ask them to do too many things at once, they’re likely to get overwhelmed and tune you out. Try to give them one or two instructions at a time, and give them time to process it before adding on anything else.
If you can, provide a visual cue to help them understand what you’re asking. For example, if you want them to pick up their toys, show them the toy box and tell them how many toys they need to put away. Be patient and keep your cool, even if they don’t seem to be following your instructions right away. With a little practice, they’ll get the hang of it in no time.
Give your child a choice whenever possible. Kids often misbehave because they feel like they lack control over their environment. By giving them options, you can help them feel they have a say in their life.
For example, “Do you want to brush your teeth now or in five minutes?” This will help them feel like they have some control over the situation. And it will help them to be more cooperative and less likely to tantrum or argue.
Additionally, try to avoid power struggles by offering two options that are both acceptable to you. Example… “Would you like to wear the red shirt or the blue shirt today?” By giving your child a sense of control, you can avoid many potential conflict situations.
Use positive reinforcement when your child does what you’ve asked. I know it can be tempting to yell, especially if you were raised by a mom who also did a lot of yelling, but there’s more to it when learning how to discipline a child without yelling. Positive reinforcement can be in the form of verbal praise, physical affection, or even a small treat.
Thank them, give them a hug, or offer a sticker or some other appreciation token like the behavior bucks system here. This printable will also help them know that they’re on the right track with something like manners.
It’s also important to avoid rewarding bad behavior with attention. If you find yourself getting angry, try to take a few deep breaths and remove yourself from the situation until you’ve calmed down. Remember, shouting will only make the problem worse.
By using these techniques, you can discipline your child effectively without losing your temper.
Put yourself in your kids’ shoes with it comes to learning how to get kids to listen without yelling. If you find yourself yelling at your child more often than you’d like, remember that it’s okay to take a break.
Step away for a few minutes to calm down, and come back when you’re ready to try again. With a little patience and effort, you will learn how to discipline a child without yelling. And you can save your yelling for the random spider crawling up your wall instead of the kids! 😜
