What is the best way to deal with sassy mouth from an 8 year old?

1. 59

   CastleQueenposted 11 years ago

   What is the best way to deal with sassy mouth from an 8 year old?

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2. 76

   Lady Wordsmithposted 11 years ago

   Calmly, yet firmly.  My son has just turned 9, and he's been like this for about two years now.  He's really started to improve in the last couple of months.  It's taken this long to sort out because I've not always dealt with it well - I have two younger sons also, and my patience doesn't always last out the day!
   
   But when I'm in the right frame of mind what works really well is still the good old 'time out'.  I remove my son from the room, and I go with him.  I ask him to stop talking, because I am now talking.  Sometimes that takes a few goes, because he's saying 'I haven't done anything wrong', 'why are you always picking on me', or 'I hate you'.  I don't shout back, and I keep calmly (but firmly) saying 'stop talking, it's my turn'.  Then I calmly (but firmly!!) talk to him about why his behaviour is unacceptable, and explain to him what it is about that behaviour that I cannot tolerate.  This is because he often doesn't realise what he's done that's so awful, and just thinks he's being hard done by, or picked on by me.  This is really now starting to work.  I make him do the 'time out', and he gets a good ten minutes now, to sit and think about things.  He always comes to me and apologises for his behaviour after that, and I make him apologise to his brothers too.  Then we all make friends again, and put the bad behaviour behind us.
   
   I treat this behaviour just like I do any other bad behaviour.  The important thing is not to get into an argument with the child; just because the bad behaviour is verbal, doesn't mean it needs to be treated any differently to, say, a tantrum, or whatever.  And as long as they're allowed to air their opinions when they're talking calmly and rationally, they're not going to feel as if you're just being mean all the time.

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3. 61

   A. Riterposted 11 years ago

   Stay calm and use your quiet 'inside' voice when you ask them why they are talking to you in this unfriendly way. This will give your child the opportunity to express what is really troubling them and at the same time, this will make them feel that you are interested in hearing their side and help them to find a resolution to the problem. It is important that you model the appropriate way of resolving an issue - starting a dialogue about it - as your child will take note of what you are doing and how you - the most powerful role model in your child's life - handle a difference in opinion. Under no circumstance descend to their level and answer rudely; you will regret this approach in years to come.

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4. 60

   danajconnellyposted 11 years ago

   I would ask "what would you say to me if I said that to you?" Honestly. That age can be very self invovled. It's important to emphasize how other people might feel about their actions/words.

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