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Expert Q&A
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| By Adolph Brown Psychologist | ||
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My daughter knows how to manipulate my husband and I. How do I break this cycle?
This is an extremely common dilemma among parents. I err on the side of "Burger King having great burgers, but kids can not have it their way!"
Please keep in mind that all young people need consistency, structure, limits and boundaries. The adults need to be on the same page when it comes to raising and rearing their children (consistency). They must also impose parameters on their children's behaviors – decisively informing their children what will be tolerated and what behaviors will not be (limits).
The children also need to know what behaviors are considered maladaptive or "bad" and what the expected range of desirable behaviors are (boundaries), and it is imperative that the young people receive these adult requisites in the context of a loving and supportive environment (structure).
Please attempt to adhere to the aforementioned, as consistency, structure, limits and boundaries will be a part of every young person's life in school, community and society at large. It becomes increasingly imperative in the lives of young children (while in the high chair), as it can be extremely challenging later on (got to avert the electric chair)."
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