Eck, consequences! Kids hate them, parents hate giving them...and they don't even seem to work. Until now! This one simple tip could be a game-changer when it comes to giving consequences. Most parents go wrong by threatening a major consequence for even the most minor offense. "If you don't stop whining, I'll walk you to school in my bathrobe and curlers until you're 25." They'll know you're bluffing, I mean c'mon, are you really going to use curlers?
Try this instead: Remember the acronym K.I.S.S.? From now on it will stand for "Keep.It.Small.Sweetie." Stick to small, easy to enforce consequences such as taking your kid's phone or device for fifteen minutes, or sending them to their room (without devices) for fifteen minutes. Set a timer and end the punishment promptly. If the consequence is easy to enforce, you will follow through and your kid will learn that when you threaten a consequence, you're going to do it.
As unpleasant as consequences are, if you use this approach just a few times, your kids will realize that you're no longer a bluffer, and you might find that your kids start to cooperate with just a simple warning. And that my friends is called empowered parenting!
Comments