Using Humor in Disciplining Children

Say for example your child called you a “poopyhead” after insisting that he must clean up his room or finish his assignment first before watching TV, what would you do?

Most parents would feel enraged or irritated at the very least when their child does this kind of behavior. Some will demand an immediate apology, while some will put their kids in time-out and send them away to the time-out area at home. Stricter parents will even take this kind of behavior personally and will resort to spanking.

However, a few parents might shrug the harm off and simply give their kid a reply, “Shhh! Don’t be so loud about my secret name. Your sister might hear you!” If you feel that this response is more appropriate, then you are what child psychologists call as a “playful parent.”

Being a playful parent has its perks. By answering your child’s insults in a light and positive way, you have broken the tension with silliness and formed a bond with your child. In fact, your child might just be so excited about knowing your “secret name”, and if you continue the game by telling him further that your actual “spy name” is Captain Chocolate Truffles, he will forget that he did not want to clean his room.

Parents take child discipline quite seriously, which is exactly the reason why a lot of parents fail at it. Taking the task of teaching kids right from wrong becomes something that is very heavy and very stressful. But if you use humor to play and connect with your child as you set limits and establish discipline, the entire experience will be a lot less stressful and a lot more fun.

The most important factor in child discipline that all parents should keep in mind is the connection between parent and child. And the only way to make and strengthen that connection is by play and humor because play is where the world of the child revolves; it is where they live. And when everyone feels stressed out and overloaded, that is when kids need play the most.

There are a number of ways that you can incorporate play into child discipline. Say for example your toddler is resisting bedtime, or your 7-year old daughter wants to have ice cream in the middle of the night, how can you discipline your child without putting yours and your child in a stressful and heated situation?

One way is to use funny voices, like taking an opera voice at the top of your lungs. You can talk to your child in a funny voice or in different characters. You can also try falling down, like “playing dead.” A lot of toddlers find it hilarious when adults fall down. Or you can use a game such as arm wrestling and pillow fights. When you use humor in disciplining your kids, it will be a more fruitful and fun experience.

Searching for parenting advice? We highly recommend The Total Transformation Program for parents dealing with Abusive Children. Check on the link for more information.

Tagged with: Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder • obnoxious and abusive behavior • obnoxious and abusive children • Parenting • Total Transformation Program

Filed under: james lehman • Total Transformation Program

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