Saying the Right Thing When Your Child Misbehaves

How do you respond when your children won’t put on their shoes, clean their room, or get into bed the first time you ask them? Or when they won’t eat the food you cook or do their homework without fussing about it?

Some moms struggle to navigate situations like that without yelling or speaking harshly to their children. And when they do succumb to knee-jerk reactions, they feel guilty and angry with themselves.

If you respond in unhealthy ways when your children misbehave, there’s a better approach. You can intentionally slow down and literally write a good response.

Authors Amber Lia and Wendy Speake are with us on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Saying the Right Thing When Your Child Misbehaves” to teach moms how to slow down and to prepare themselves to respond better when their children disobey.

Amber and Wendy explain why having a “script” is an effective parenting method and how to create one. They also discuss how to respond to sibling rivalry, disobedience, and bedtime battles, and what to say when a child is angry, rude, or whiney.

Listen to our conversation on your local radio station, online, on Apple Podcasts, via Google Podcasts, or take us with you on our free phone app.

While you’re online, take our free parenting assessment. It will quickly give you an overview of how your family is doing in several key areas and offer some suggestions for how you can improve the relationships in your home.

I’d also like to extend an invitation for you to become a special partner with us through our monthly “Friends of Focus on the Family” program. When you do, I’ll send you a copy of Amber Lia and Wendy Speake’s book called Parenting Scripts: When What You’re Saying Isn’t Working, Say Something New as a way of saying thank you for touching others with the love of Christ. You’ll also receive member-exclusive benefits. To make your pledge, or for more information, visit our website or call 1-800-A-FAMILY (232-6459).