Expert advice on dealing with your childs back talk

Educational Psychologist Michele Borba, EdD, shares advice for parents on how to best deal with their child when they are back talking or sassing
Parenting Tips | How To Deal With Your Child's Back Talk | Kids in the House
KidsInTheHouse the Ultimate Parenting Resource
Kids in the House Tour

Expert advice on dealing with your childs back talk

Comment
76
Unlike
76
Transcription: 
One of the most annoying kid behaviors hands down to any parent is backtalk or sassing so here's some hints to turn around and stop it. The first thing is catch it before it becomes a habit. Very quickly the backtalk can go into defiance, it can go into disrespect. Stop it at the bridge. How do you stop it? The easiest way is respectfully refuse to converse with your child until he talks nicely. With younger children you can use the glue method. "There's glue on the bottom of your feet, sweetheart. Do not move until you can talk nicely to your mom." If you're in a car, use the brakes. They're wonderful. You pull over to the side of the road, you don't start the car until your child can talk nicely. After a while they'll get the hint, particularly if you pull out a book and start reading. The key is you want your child to talk nicely to you. Don't engage with a child who is disrespectful. And make sure you also acknowledge your child when he is respectful. Bottom line on this is unfortunately as parents we always tell our child what they're doing wrong. You're far more likely to turn a behavior around if you point out the moment they do it right. "That was respectful. I appreciate that. Thanks. Let's keep doing it." Keep on with it because the one thing you want to do is a child who is respectful, your whole family harmony will be increased as well.

Educational Psychologist Michele Borba, EdD, shares advice for parents on how to best deal with their child when they are back talking or sassing

Transcript

Expert Bio

More from Expert

Michele Borba, EdD

Educational Psychologist

Michele Borba, EdD is a Today Show contributor and recipient of the National Educator Award. She is recognized for her practical, solution-based parenting strategies and is an expert of bullying. Michele is the author of 22 books including Building Moral Intelligence and No More Misbehavin’. She appears as an expert on shows such as Dr. Phil, The View, and CNN and is an advisory board member for Parentsmagazine. 

More Parenting Videos from Michele Borba, EdD >
Enter your email to
download & subscribe
to our newsletter