How to Motivate Kids Without Yelling
Every parent yells at her kids once in a while, but when yelling becomes your go-to method of communicating your expectations, it can lead to negative results. Children who are yelled at frequently will start to tune out what is being said and will begin to use yelling as a way to express themselves also. What’s the best way to motivate kids without yelling? Here are some ideas:
Establish clear expectations
To avoid yelling in the future, establish clear rules and expectations and make sure your kids understand what those are. “Remain consistent in applying the consequences so that it is known that rules have value.” says Kara Thomas, mom and preschool teacher from Shawnee. For example, if mornings are difficult, set rules everyone in the family can follow to make things run more smoothly. Create a routine so kids know what to expect and what to do next. For example, everyone needs to be dressed, done eating, and have shoes on and bags packed before playing or using electronics in the morning. A natural consequence for not following this rule is loss of electronics for a day following the event. You can set a similar routine for bedtime. Let kids know what behaviors are unacceptable in the home (hitting, fighting, being disrespectful) and what the consequences are for breaking a family rule. When a rule is broken or a morning isn’t going smoothly, the kids won’t be surprised by the consequences because they have been discussed calmly in advance. You won’t have a need to yell because once a rule is broken, the consequence is put into place, and the day goes on.
Give positive reinforcement
It’s no surprise that people who receive negative feedback start to feel bad about themselves, and those who receive positive feedback, understanding and encouragement have more self-confidence and a better attitude overall. When dealing with kids, take the opportunity to encourage them and give as much positive reinforcement as possible. “If you are trying to find the balance, the two positives to every behavior correction can be a good model to try to follow.” says Thomas. When the time comes for correction, try to give advice or ask for things in a positive and calm way. This will likely have better results than yelling.
Examine yourself
If you have noticed that you yell at your children more than you would like to, think about what’s causing this. Are you rushed? Frustrated? Do you need a break? Sometimes we don’t realize how often we are yelling. Consider asking a co-parent or friend to be an accountability partner and let you know when you need to cool down and approach the situation differently. If your children are older, you can also ask them for help in changing your behavior by allowing them to point out when you are yelling. In advance, come up with some ideas of what you can try instead of yelling—if your child won’t put on his shoes, ask him to race to see who can do it faster. If you feel the urge to yell, walk into a room where your child can’t hear you and mutter out whatever you wanted to yell. This should allow you to return the situation more calmly and direct your child in a more positive way. Let your child know in advance what the consequences of bad behavior will be and warn your child what will happen. If the behavior occurs, follow through with the consequence you set without yelling.
Give a warning
Sometimes, simply giving your child a warning can save an argument later. Calmly saying “We are leaving the park in 5 minutes” or “Please stop screaming or you will have a time-out” gives your child a chance to prepare herself and choose how to respond. When the time comes to leave the park or give a time-out, follow through on your warning. If you give multiple chances or end up staying at the park another 20 minutes, your child won’t take your warnings seriously in the future, and you may find yourself frustrated and yelling once again. “Consistency is key in your children knowing that the rules have meaning and consistent consequences for breaking the,” says Thomas.
Ask for help
One way to avoid yelling is to ask your child to help you solve the problem you are faced with. If you are expecting company and the house is a mess, you could yell at the kids to clean up their rooms or you could present the situation as a problem that you need help solving. “Our friends are coming over in 30 minutes and there are toys all over the floor. What should we do?” You may find that when it is presented this way, your children will come up with the solution you were wanting in the first place. They’ll pick up their toys, and you won’t even need to yell at them. If they don’t come up with the solution you were looking for, make sure to tell them what you need from them and give them clear guidelines on what you expect to happen.
Be understanding
As parents, we often forget our kids are just that—kids. Their behavior is not going to be perfect or rational all the time. They may have something going on they haven’t shared with you, they may be overtired, or they may be frustrated or worried. All these things can cause them to act out or forget to do what is expected of them. Try to be understanding, validate their feelings and listen to what they have going on at school or with friends and siblings. Simply talking about their feelings and strengthening your relationship with them will help motivate them to listen and obey you in the future.
Everyone makes mistakes, even Mom and Dad, and we will occasionally yell at each other. The key is to try to discipline in a positive and calm way. Our kids will follow our lead as they face conflict and frustrations.
Sarah Lyons is a part time freelance writer and full-time mom. She lives in Olathe with her husband and six children.