PARENTING TIP: A Counter-Intuitive Intervention

Once you know your child has done something wrong, do what's counter-intuitive: listen. Ask your child why he or she did it and do not cut them off mid-sentence. Interrupting your child causes the child to feel angry and unheard, feelings that later reinforce more anger and resentment toward the parent. Making your child feel listened to sends the message that you want to help them more than punish them, and that you don't simply enjoy or 'get off on' having power over them, something many children mistakenly believe.