Ways to Stop Yelling

If you are having "power" struggles with your children or yelling matches. These easy steps will help you set up strategies to get your child to listen to you and make your life and your child's life easier on both of you.

• Always talk eye-to-eye or face-to-face. If your child is in the next room and you want to talk to him/her walk in to the room, rather than yell from another room and express in words, calm words, that your child will understand that you would like to talk to him/her.
• When you are talking to your child have a smile on your face. Not necessarily a 'smile' per say, but a pleasant look, not an angry or mad look. Your child is more likely to respond to you when you approach pleasantly. Even when you have to talk to your child about something bad, make sure you keep your happy face on and stay strong. 
• Have a daily routine. It is very important for your child to have structure in their lives. When they have a schedule or routine, they know what has to be done next and are less likely to question your actions. 
• Ask your child not to yell. Just tell your child if he/she yells you will walk away and go about your business. Let them know that you will do/expect the same thing. When a child does this to a parent, the parent should be able to look at the situation and realize what just happened. Realize that the parent is acting just like the child.
• Walk away from the argument. This stops the fight and shows the child that you are in control. 

Sometimes, it seems like nothing will work, so you yell, make your voice louder and stronger, but it only makes the situation worse. 

Yelling at Your Kids Does Not Work

To discipline your kids, yelling at them is not going to help. Kids tend to tune out someone with anger. The only one you are hurting by yelling is your self.

The child tends to get scared when there is yelling and usually makes the situation worse. The child doesn't respond to yelling because his/her mind goes into emotional mode in order to withstand the yelling. When your child listens to you yell, it is hard for him/her to protect themselves emotionally and listen to you at the same time, so they tend to retreat inside themselves in order to protect themselves or they will yell back out of defense.

It's hard to punish your child for yelling at you when you are yelling at them. Your child doesn't hear what you say when you are yelling and can cause emotional stress, low self-esteem, and anger problems when growing up.