Can Common Parenting Tips Cause Misbehavior?
Parents are struggling across the globe to raise happy kids who are respectful and kind.
And yet there are “experts” around every corner who are almost shouting parenting tips that are “guaranteed” to create calm, sensitive, polite, and well-rounded kids.
Yet, we continue to see a trend of bad behavior in children.
And that trend is gaining ground.
Kids are yelling at their parents.
“I hate you!” and “Shut-up!” are not a rarity anymore.
In fact, thousands of moms have flocked to social media to air their grievances of these outbursts.
There has to be a reason.
Kids don’t immediately say such things with passion.
It’s a learned reaction.
Could Popular Parenting Tips Be Causing Behavior Issues?
Could it be the “parenting experts” have actually sworn by a few tips that encourage bad attitudes?
Quite possibly.
If you’ve read my post that resonated with hundreds of thousands of parents about cranky toddlers, then you know I’ve admitted to messing up on my parenting adventure.
In fact, I still continue to miss the mark!
Popular Parenting Tips that Could be Causing Your Child’s Bad Behavior
But I’ve learned that certain childhood behaviors escalate if they’re not addressed.
After teaching kids for over 18 years, I’ve observed a parenting pattern that reflects in each child whose parents follow these four popular parenting tips.
That’s not to say those parents don’t mean well!
And my desire is for this article to reach a parent who has followed all the parenting advice but has yet to see solutions.
I desire to offer modern parents hope when it seems their family life has to continue in arguments, strife, and tears.
And we welcome emails from parents who truly desire to find help!
These Parenting Tips Can Cause Misbehavior in Kids
And if you’re a mom who wants to get a head start on her mom journey, we’ve created a HUGE mom kit just for you!
It has loads of printables to inspire you to love motherhood once again!
You can snag yours here!
Four Popular Parenting Tips Often Cause Misbehavior in Children
Popular Parenting Tip #1: Reward whining.
Magazines, talk shows and even …ahem…blog posts tell parents it’s ok to give in to whining.
Even when a child is screaming, hitting, and yelling obscenities.
Does your child cry for the red cup when you give her the blue?
Then, give her the one she really wants.
Even if she whines for it…
Even if she demands it…
I personally know many well-meaning parents who hurriedly replace the blue cup with the most enviable red cup.
If their child is complaining about lunch, they offer the child another lunch option — like macaroni and cheese or chicken nuggets — instead of the chicken vegetable soup everyone else is eating.
But what do you think — super-smart, critically thinking parents?
If parents continually reward whining, they could very well encourage a child to be self-centered, complaining, and discontent.
And in our family, we consider that bad behavior.
It’s not a desirable character trait we want our kids to learn.
And yet, the parenting experts continue to teach that it’s ok to give in to a child’s whining, demands and complaints.
The truth is, sometimes being an awesome parent means being the “bad guy” for a little bit in order to be the “good guy” in the long run.
Popular Parenting Tip #2: Respond to violent behavior with affection.
I was kind of shocked three years ago as I watched parenting television shows that were discussing how to handle a child’s violent behavior.
Do you know what they said was the best reaction to a violent child?
Affection from the parents.
Let me just be crystal clear about the bad behavior we’re discussing.
We’re talking about kicking, hitting, pinching — violence!
Think with me.
Parenting experts are encouraging parents to give bear hugs to reward someone who just power kicked an adult.
Really?!
Singing lullabies and rocking a toddler who just smacked his mother in the face is highly encouraged.
Parents Need to Evaluate and Question Popular Parenting Tips
Here’s my parenting journey, thought-provoking question: Since when did it become ok to be violent to other humans beings?!
FACT: Someone who harms another being should never receive a hug as a reward.
I’m a huge proponent of spending loads of time with your kids and smothering them in hugs and kisses!
But, hitting, kicking, pinching, biting, and punching?
Actions that inflict pain on other people should never, ever be allowed.
But when violent behavior does take place, it should only be met with consequences — not rewards.
Rewarding violent behavior only encourages it to continue.
Should we hug our kids when they steal?
Should we give them kisses when they cuss?
If we think it’s insane to reward a child for that type of bad behavior, why would we believe the popular parenting advice to show affection when our child has harmed another individual?
Let’s be thinking parents on our parenting journey!
Popular Parenting Tip #3: Give kids the option to obey.
Obedience to parents should not be optional.
However, but some well-known parenting experts are encouraging parents to give their kids options when it comes to obedience.
For instance, instead of a parent saying, “Put on your shoes, we’re leaving the house in five minutes,” they encourage parents to say, “I know you’re ready to leave when you’re sitting on the rug with your shoes on.”
On the surface, that sounds like peaceful, kind, and patient parenting.
But if you dig a little deeper, you may come to the conclusion that giving kids options when it comes to obedience actually encourages them to decide when they should obey parents.
And that can be a dangerous decision for a young mind to make.
Some Parenting Tips Can Encourage Kids to Misbehave
Obedience to parents is actually a safety net for children and prepares them to follow authority in real, adult life.
Parents want what’s best for their kids and guide and protect them through love, commands and guidance.
There’s a reason parents say, “Don’t stick your fork in the outlet.”
There’s a reason parents say, “Don’t put batteries in your mouth.”
And if imminent danger ever becomes reality in your life, you will be glad that obedience wasn’t an option for your child.
In that moment, your child’s very life could hang on the fact if she was taught to always obey her parents or if obedience to parents was an optional choice.
Because we believe obedience is crucial to a child’s safety, we came up with some crazy-fun games that teach obedience!
This will make learning good behavior fun! :)
Popular Parenting Tip #4: Only address bad behavior 60% of the time.
Teaching children to become well-behaved is much like any other healthy habit in life — it has to be consistent!
And our sons deserve consistency from us.
Our daughters deserve consistency from us.
Think of it this way…
We can exercise faithfully for one week, but if we only exercise every other ten days after that first dedicated week, we won’t see lasting results.
The same principle applies to parenting.
We have to love our kids 100 percent of the time.
We have to address bad behavior 100% of the time.
But parents often think it’s ok if they let things go.
In fact, sometimes they’re encouraged to let things go on their parenting journey.
Why?
Because it’s just too hard to be diligent.
But if you want to see your child’s behavior go from bad, negative, and aggressive to loving, kind and affectionate you absolutely have to be ready to parent at any given moment.
It’s annoying to stop conversing with an adult to focus on a child who is deliberating disobeying your rules, isn’t it?
It’s rarely convenient to address negative behavior, but here’s a parenting secret:
The more you’re consistent, the fewer tantrums, meltdowns, and negative behavior you’ll see.
If you only address your child’s negative behavior 60% of the time then you will have a child who acts out, disobeys and causes havoc more than 60% of the time!
Why?
Because your child is counting on you to be lazy this one time.
Your child is hoping she will get away with her bad behavior — one more time.
And so the tantrum and the disobedient saga will continue.
Unless, you firmly decide to go against this parenting trend — once and for all!
As a parent who wants to lead and guide, you absolutely must take the diligent road and work through your child’s bad behavior.
Can I ask you a favor?
For your child, your family and yourself, please take time to re-think these popular parenting tips that are causing bad behavior in kids.
Try being the parent who goes against these parenting trends and see what a difference it makes in your family.
Go ahead.
I double dog dare you to be different!
May your family be blessed because of it!
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