5 Ways to Stop Yelling!

When your child is driving you crazy, it can feel as if they are always misbehaving.  Instead of losing your cool, check out Parent's 5 ways to stay calm while still making your point and setting necessary boundaries.

1. Breathe
Inhale. Exhale. Repeat. Sometimes all it takes is a moment to cool down.

2. Address the Behavior 
We all have good kids; sometimes their behavior just stinks. When you're teaching your children to ride their bikes, do you punish them when they don't get it the first try? Of course not. You encourage them, support them, and give them guidance.  Remember that positive behavior is learned, and yelling is not necessarily an effective teaching tool.

3. Mean Business Without Being Mean
Instead of yelling, use a firm, but soft, I-mean-business tone when giving behavior directions.

Direction that makes the most impact on a child is actually one that is stern and even somewhat gentle. When you speak in a calm but firm soft voice, children have to work to listen -- and they most always do. The calmer and softer you speak, the more impact your words will have. Not only will your child most likely grasp your instructions faster, you won't have to lose your voice trying to convey it.

4. Help Your Child Explain Feelings
Before you lose your cool because your child has misbehaved, figure out what is causing the behavior.
Our goal as parents should be to teach our children how to effectively express themselves by validating their feelings without validating their behavior.

5. Put Yourself in Their Shoes
Are you hurt when someone yells at you? Of course; so why wouldn't your child be?
Our goal as parents should be to teach our children and to build them up, not to tear them down. When we yell at our children we risk damaging their self-esteem and sense of self-worth.  Consider how you'd feel if your boss yelled at you. You'd likely be embarrassed and hurt.  Often you don't have a chance to process what your boss is saying because of how it was said. The same goes for your child. You want to be able to teach him what is acceptable and what is not without making him feel shame or embarrassment.