When your child is being aggressive and defiant, it's natural for parents to want to talk back, assert authority, and refuse to stand for that. Engaging all that anger is often the wrong path to take, authors Carmelite Avraham-Krehwinkel and David Aldridge suggest. In Happy Families, this week's featured book in the Harried Parent's Book Club, they offer a "nonviolent resistance approach" that makes parents' objections clear without escalating the conflict.
I've posted an excerpt from the book entitled "The Principle of 'Pause and Postpone' to give you a look at their technique. Have you tried anything like this with your child? Do you think it would work? Share in the comments.
Cover image courtesy of Jessica Kingsley Publishers
It sounds like a great idea! I know from experience that if my son is in a temper, there is no reasoning or discussion, because he can’t participate and then my temper gets up and we just yell things we’ll wish we’d never said. I have to wait him out, so that we can both be clearer thinking. Having emphasized that the acting out is not acceptable, while continuing to wait out the storm, will make it more clear what it is we’re waiting for. I’ll try it!