12/05/2021
Any parent who has a strong-willed child knows what a challenge it can be to raise that child. It often feels like all you do is spend your days butting heads and engaging in power struggles. As difficult as it may be to parent them though, strong-willed children usually grow up to be self-motivated, creative leaders. The question is, how do you help them channel that strong will without going crazy in the process? These tips can help you navigate these challenging years.
1. It’s not personal -First, you must understand that your child’s acts of will are not a personal attack against you. It can often feel like it since these displays of apparent defiance often come when you’ve given them an instruction to follow. However, attempting to remove your feelings from the situation can help a great deal. Your child is not going against you to try to bug you or because they don’t like you. It’s simply their nature to want to self-direct and know the WHY behind something.
2. Strong-willed children have a need to feel heard and respected. -Just as they need to understand the reasoning behind something, strong willed kids also need to feel as though they are part of the decision-making process.
3. Strong-willed children need choices.-Your child has a need to feel in control, and having a say in what happens in their own life is an important part of allowing them to feel that control. In as many situations as you are able, give your strong-willed child choices. Depending on their age, this may be a choice between two things, several things, or even an open-ended choice.
4. You’re on the same team. -When you’re in the middle of a power struggle, it’s easy to feel like you and your child are pitted against each other. The truth of the matter though is that you’re on the same team, even when it doesn’t feel like it. You both want what’s in the best interest of your child, even if you don’t necessarily agree on what that is or how it should be accomplished.
Source: misshumblebee.com