Sean E. Heerey ND, MA, CCC/SLP
Parents and caregivers get tired of saying “No”. Children don’t want to hear the word “No”. Setting limits and establishing boundaries are an important part of raising children.
Sometimes we feel that we have no option when dealing with a child and we must say “NO” quite emphatically and vociferously. Here is a typical scenario: It is time for dinner and your child wants a chocolate bar. Fortunately, there are several clever options in managing these situations.
Here are some helpful tips to change the dialogue between you and your child:
1. Distract- “Hey, did you just see that giant red fire truck?”
2. Pretend- “Sorry, no real chocolate before dinner. How about some pretend chocolate from Adventure Bay (where Paw Patrols rescue dogs live). I can give you 500 pieces of pretend chocolate!”
3. Be in agreement- “Yes, I would love to give you that chocolate bar as soon as you finish all your dinner.”
4. Make an alternative offer – “You had some chocolate earlier today. Why not have some giant, juicy blueberries?”
5. Request help from Authority figures- “I want what Dr. Jones would say about having chocolate before dinner. Next time we see him let’s ask”
6. Commiserate- “Yes, I want a chocolate bar too! All I want is chocolate before dinner. Who came up with that silly rule anyway!”
7. Just Play- Acknowledge that they want chocolate before dinner but launch into a physical play theme- chase, hug, tickle.
8. Google it- “I don’t think we can have chocolate before dinner, let’s ask Google?”
9. Ponder and Wonder- “Hmmmm, I wonder what Mama Pig and Papa Pig would say if Peppa Pig wanted to have chocolate before her dinner?”
10. Play the Grandma or favorite Aunt/Uncle card- “Oh, I am so sorry. I can’t give you chocolate before dinner. You will have to ask your Uncle Tony. Only Uncle Tony can give you chocolate before dinner. We can ask him the next time we see him for all the chocolate that you want?”
There are other many other ways to handle such situations. Patience and kindness goes a long way.
You May Also Like...
Is Histamine Intolerance Making Me Sick?
Have you ever heard of histamine intolerance? You have probably heard of histamine before because…
Yes, Chronic Lyme Is Real
Record breaking heat in the summer, and much warmer winters, have contributed to a spike in the…
Sublingual Immunotherapy
Your immune system is a complex connection tasked with the responsibility of fighting infection and…
Bursting Berry Shake
If you are like me and always on the go, making time for a healthy, nutritious meal can be…
Vegan Ginger Cardamom Cheesecake
If you are like me, I love a good cheesecake. But since I eliminated gluten and dairy from my diet…
Lyme Disease Testing: Why It Continues To Fail To Properly Identify Lyme Disease
When I was working as a microbiologist in the early 1990’s, Lyme testing was still pretty new and…
Zucchini Noodles
If you are on a gluten-free diet and are getting tired of rice noodles, zucchini noodles are a…
Beyond a Gluten Free Diet
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and oats (unless they are grown in separate…
Exercising for Adrenal Health
Adrenal exhaustion is a serious and unfortunately, very common problem among many. The body feels…