Today's parents are raising children in a world of constant notifications and societal pressure to optimize every aspect of life, from sleep schedules to snack choices.
At the same time, many parents in the 1980s and 1990s managed with far less drama and public scrutiny. The immense mental strain felt by modern parents is not a result of a lack of love for their children, but of coping with pressures that previous generations did not have to face.
1. Anger over screen removal
As YourTango writes, one study showed that screens affect a child's nervous system in a similar way to addictive substances, as they directly stimulate the reward center in the brain.
To counteract the bad behavior that parents find frustrating, but which is actually a symptom of withdrawal, the first step is to drastically reduce screen time and increase activities that engage both the mind and the whole body.
Activities like being outdoors, hiking, playing sports, riding bikes and scooters, and engaging in imaginative play that involves dressing up and lots of movement are great choices. For example, kids can pretend to be teachers giving lessons, pirates, or Olympians training for a gold medal. These are great ways to ease the symptoms of screen withdrawal and make the transition easier for everyone.
Another great approach is to limit your own screen time and dedicate more time to direct play, listening, talking, or simply having fun with your children, because there is a lot of truth in the saying that children imitate their parents.
"The best way to address this increasingly common problem is to find activities that bring you and your children joy, and that include three key elements: connecting with nature, getting lots of movement, and practicing mindfulness – with your mind, body, speech, and behavior," advises life coach Vicy Wilkinson.
2. Why does the child do exactly what you forbid him to do?
When you see a child running around the house and you tell them, “Don’t run, you’ll fall!” And of course, the child keeps running and falls. At that moment, you probably think, “I just told you not to do that!”
The reason your child does this is because you describe the behavior you don't want, and just put words like "Don't," "No," or "Stop" in front of it. Some psychologists claim that the mind works in images, so it doesn't hear negative commands and is more likely to do what it sees. So whatever image you create in a child's mind, that's what the child is most likely to do, reports Index.
"To solve this common challenge, all you need to do is describe the behavior you want to see and teach your child how to do what you're asking them to do if they don't know how. In this example, saying, 'Walk!', 'Watch where you're walking,' or 'Walk carefully' will suffice," explains counselor Jody Johnston Pawel, president of Parents Toolshop Consulting.
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