| Do you believe most things that your children say to | | | | 6 Everyone else's parents allow them do it. |
| you? | | | | This is another very popular one and I'm sure you used |
| Most parents would say that they don't but maybe | | | | it yourself as a child. It's used to make parents feel |
| you succumb sometimes to one of these things said | | | | guilty and out of touch with what's happening in today's |
| by your children. | | | | world. He wants you to give in to something you think |
| Read these tips for dads and moms and give them to | | | | is wrong or not good for him. |
| your child to read too. | | | | 7) Everyone has one. |
| 1 It's not my fault B.. made me do. | | | | This is rarely ever true. It may be true that many have |
| Out of all these family tips this is one of the most | | | | this particular object but not everyone. This comment |
| common and is the cry of children all over the world. | | | | usually said in a whining voice is designed to try and |
| Other people do influence us but we have to take | | | | encourage parents to purchase a product that your |
| responsibility for our own actions and responses. You | | | | child wants today. Children often have unrealistic |
| child has to learn to do this. Make sure it's not your | | | | expectation and can be influenced by all the |
| response when things go wrong. Although you need to | | | | advertising that's aimed at them. |
| make sure that your child isn't being bullied into doing | | | | 8) I promise I'll never do it again. |
| something he doesn't want to do. | | | | Parents really want to believe this one. It's really |
| 2 I've never skipped classes/school before. | | | | designed to get parents to change their minds and |
| This is unlikely. Usually by the time a child gets caught | | | | relent on consequences. One of my particular tips for |
| skipping classes or school they've usually done it a | | | | dads, especially tired ones. Many parents are tempted |
| number of previous times. This time he's been caught | | | | to give into this and let their child off the hook "just this |
| and knows he's likely to be punished and is trying to | | | | time". If you do this you'll not be teaching them that all |
| find a way of avoiding this. | | | | actions have consequences.9) I promise "I WILL" do it |
| 3 I don't have homework tonight | | | | tomorrow |
| Sometimes this is true. Other times what he means is | | | | Unless there is a genuine reason for your child |
| he doesn't have any homework that he has to | | | | undertaking the task tomorrow my advice for parents |
| complete by tomorrow. One of my parents tips is | | | | would be get him do it today. The next day your child |
| always check it out by delving a bit further and make | | | | will have another reason for not doing what it is he |
| sure he doesn't frequently leave doing his homework | | | | promised yesterday. |
| until the last possible minute. | | | | 10) Give me .... reasons why I can't do it. |
| 4 I'm not friends with N.... anymore. | | | | Family tip. This isn't a genuine question and one that |
| Maybe not at this moment or today, but tomorrow it | | | | your child really wants answering. If you spend time |
| maybe different. Many breaks in friendship may only | | | | answering this question your child won't feel any |
| last a few days. Encourage your child to talk to you | | | | happier as to why he can't do what he wants. I |
| about what has happened to cause this rift in their | | | | always used to ask my parents for 5 reasons as to |
| friendship. My good parenting tip is to not allow this to | | | | why I couldn't do something. I thought if I kept |
| turn into an argument that no-one gets anywhere. | | | | increasing the number my parents would eventually run |
| 5 Everyone's going | | | | out of reasons and I would be able do what I wanted. |
| Family tips is always to check this out by suggesting to | | | | In all the many years I've worked with children I've |
| your child that you call a number of his friends parents | | | | never heard a child say "Mum and Dad, I understand |
| to see if it's true. You find "everyone" to suddenly | | | | exactly why you won't allow me to do or have |
| changes to "some". Don't be pushed into letting your | | | | exactly what I want. I'm so glad that you care enough |
| child go somewhere that's inappropriate for his age or | | | | for me to realize that having everything I want may |
| unsafe. The next one of my parents tips is to check | | | | turn me into spoilt brat and I don't want to be that kind |
| and make sure that you're not trying to keep your child | | | | of person. |
| back from doing something that's appropriate for a | | | | If your child ever responds in this manner, please |
| young person of his age. | | | | contact me as something is definitely wrong! |