Monday 02 November 2009
My brother recently sent me an article from The New York Times which really got me thinking. Tittled, "For Some Parents, Shouting is the New Spanking" are we a generation that frequently yells at our children? For most of us, spanking is simply not an option when it comes to discipling our kids yet at the end of a long day who hasn't yelled at their 5 year old when they just won't go to bed!
Amy McCready, founder of the Positive Parenting Solutions states that "This issue is so right now. As parents understand that it is not socially acceptable to spank, they are at loss for what they can do. They resort to reminding, nagging,timeout, counting 1-2-3 and quickly realize that those strategies don't work to change behaviour. In the absenceof tools that really work, they feel frustrated and angry and raise their voice. They feel guilty afterward, and the whole cycle begins again".
Experts say that parental yelling may be related to the releasing of stress for many over worked, overachieving, multitasking parents of today. Experts also warn that if a parent is simply loud, the effect is minimal on a child, but when the tone you are using implies anger, insult or sarcasm, it can be perceived as a sign of rejection.
I can certainly relate to this. As a multitasking mother of two young children, the stress can be overwhelming and I worry about being the loudest family on the block.
0 Comments | Tags: children, kids,