For Guys: 6 parenting tips

Little guys getting the better of you? Try these 6 tactics for peace with the kids.

"At what point did they get the upper hand?"

As a parent, this thought probably ran through your head at some point. House is a mess, wailing of one or more kids, dinner isn't ready and no-one is happy. What happened? How can I take back control? You don't need a super-nanny to get back in the driver seat. Try these tactics starting right now!

The Tone


Start with the tone of the day. Kids will test your resolve from the first moment of the day. If you can withstand the initial assault and stand tall, the whole day will start out on the right foot. It is all too easy to "let things slide until I get my coffee", and it’s a slippery slope you will have trouble recovering from.

The Timer


Sharing among siblings is one of the most common paths of strife in the home. A simple kitchen timer is surprisingly affective. 5 minutes and switch, 5 minutes and switch. Children actually respond surprisingly well to this method, enjoying the toy when they have it, and usually tire of waiting and find something else to play with in the off time.

The Counting

Get into the habit of asking once, and following up with a three count. If there is not compliance within the three count, send the child to a timeout location. Setting this precedent, especially early in the day, will often get compliance by the one or two count later in the day. The counting also can have a calming effect on the counter as well, allowing the parent to make an unemotional decision on punishment. Your ability to remain or regain your calm is essential to your piece of mind.

The Time Out

Surprisingly effective in most cases, the timeout can often defuse a situation and allow the child to regain their composure. Most sources will recommend starting timeouts at 2 years of age, with the duration be the age in minutes. For example, a four year old will have a four-minute timeout. The timer can be used, or a quick glance at the clock.

The Time out escalation

When the child misbehaves in time out, change locations, preferably to a more isolated but safe location.

The Whining

One of the most irrupting childhood habits is the "whining" speech pattern that many children will adopt. Often telling the child "I can't hear you when you whine" is very effective in changing that habit.

The Questions

Often to make conversation, a child will ask a large number of "Why" questions. A good tactic is to reverse the roles. Ask the child why they think the sky is blue. Alternatively, ask them where we're driving. You will get some very interesting answers, and the child will achieve their goal of interaction.