Parenting - Learn How to Teach Your Kids Discipline and Respect For You

One of the most difficult things that you will eventually have to do as a parent is argue with your child.

Often times any arguments with your children will become irrational, simply because they strive to take the arguments in that direction. Children are so much more persistent than adults when it comes to arguments. Often it seems like it would just be a heck of a lot easier to say "Yes" than to say "No" even when you know which one you ought to say.

However, this is not the solution. Instead, try the following techniques to teach your child both to respect you and your wishes as a parent, and to be more disciplined. In addition, he will learn the rational way to argue, and how to listen.

One more thing, remember that you're a model for your child. If you argue with your child and become irrational, or loud, or mean, then they're going to pick up on those exact same habits. So make sure that you're extra careful with what you say and how you say it.

Here are a few things that you should make sure that you do to set a good example for your child, while still conveying your own point:

#1 - Make sure that you make eye contact frequently while speaking with your child. This lets your child know that you see them as an equal, and it instills a sense of honesty into everything that you say, which will make your child much more likely to listen to you.

This keeps your child from feeling like you think yourself superior...Remember when you were a kid? Did it ever bother you that you thought your parents thought they were better than you? Well, your child feels the same way. By maintaining eye contact you help to diminish that feeling.

#2 - Make sure that you actually do pay attention to the things that your child is saying. Don't be doing something else while talking to them. I know that it can be sort of a hassle to always set down what you're doing when you and your child start to head towards an argument, but you want to make sure and teach your child how to listen, and the best way to do this is through example.

So, have a seat with your kids, talk with them, and make sure that you actually are paying attention to them.

#3 - Ask questions about what your child is saying. Often times children can say things that sound either irrational or that don't quite make sense the way that they said them. By asking questions to your child you're doing two things.

First, you're helping move the argument along, by asking your kid to further explain what they're saying, more often than not they will either see the holes in their own argument, or they will see where you might be coming from. The earlier your child learns this skill, the better.

Secondly, again, you're setting a good example. Asking questions is an essential listening skill, and one that they will need to be able to use for the rest of their lives.

Try putting these 3 tips into effect the next time you and your child start to get into a little verbal scuffle. You will begin to pave the way towards a better understanding, for them and for yourself, of how these arguments should really work.

Good luck parenting!