What to do if your 6-year-old child is rebellious?

Children’s rebellious period can be short-lived or can last for a long time. In fact, the main reason depends on the methods and approaches parents use to solve the problem. Generally speaking, every parent hopes that their children will be well-behaved, try not to be naughty, and be more sensible, so that adults can worry less. Once a child reaches the rebellious period, it is very difficult to teach him. So what should you do if a 6-year-old child is rebellious?

1. Gain a deeper understanding of the causes and motivations of your child’s behavior

Children spend the most time with their parents and are closest to them. If parents want to understand their children's inner needs, they cannot ask others for help. No one knows your children better than you two.

Parents should pay attention to observation and communicate more with their children. Parents should fully understand their children's demands to try things on their own and express themselves independently, and try their best to create as many conditions as possible so that their children's demands can be appropriately or fully met.

When you feel like losing your temper, stop and think about what your child really wants. Every action of a child can definitely reflect the child’s true inner demands.

2. Never compromise on matters of principle

Children in their rebellious period are contradictory. They constantly challenge the rules and pursue the rules at the same time. If the rules are confusing, children will definitely lack a sense of security.

Parents should be cautious, scientific and stick to the rules when making them: once the rules are made, they must be followed; do not make rules that exceed the children's abilities, such as requiring children to stay focused in class.

Focus on the big things and let go of the small things. Except for things that endanger life or health, we encourage children to try other things and be lenient most of the time, but we will firmly say no where strictness is necessary. Respect children's needs. Sometimes children just want to act independently, such as dressing themselves and eating by themselves. Adults should not forbid children from doing so just because they find it troublesome.

3. A variety of methods to guide

Children in the rebellious period have many "problems" and situations. Parents should use different methods to guide them skillfully according to different situations. The countermeasures are roughly divided into seven categories. Please use them flexibly:

Countermeasure 1: Provoke the child. Take advantage of the child's desire to go against the grain and don't let the child do what you want him to do.

[Example]: Parents asked their child to eat, but the child refused to eat. Parents can use the method of provoking their children and ask them not to eat, but the children will desperately ask for food instead.

Note: When using this method, keep your tone as genuine and calm as possible, and adjust it appropriately according to the child's emotions. In addition, the opposite method of provoking "you go and do XX" is not effective.

Countermeasure 2: Treat it coldly and pretend you didn’t see it.

[Example]: The child throws things around to attract the parents' attention, pretends not to see it, and continues chatting with his father. When the child sees that it does not have the effect she wants, she will stop automatically.

4. Deal with negative emotions calmly

Never try to reason with your child when he or she is emotional. When a child cries loudly, there are four steps to deal with emotions: hold the child or go to a quiet place, listen to the child cry quietly for a while, and let the child calm down. Help your child figure out why he or she is crying and what emotion he or she is feeling, whether sad or angry. For example: Are you sad if your brother doesn’t let you play with his toys? Are you still angry with your brother? Show sympathy and understanding to your child, for example: I know you are very sad, so just cry for a while! When the child calms down, suggest new ways to divert his attention, for example: Let’s go play with sand!

Don’t worry about a 6-year-old child’s rebellious period. Learn to teach your child patiently and don’t let him/her continue to be rebellious. Correct him/her as soon as possible.