How to Discipline When Kids Fight in the Car

Parenting with discipline is tough when your kids fight in the car. You get distracted. You tell them to stop. They don’t listen. What can you do? Look for 3 parenting tips using logical consequences.

Common Discipline Problems When Driving:

1. Do you get rattled when driving kids to gymnastics, soccer, or music lessons? The kids start whining, “He’s sitting in my space. She won’t share her candy. He touched me.” They get louder and louder. Traffic is bad. You’re not sure you’ll get them to their activities on time. Now is a teaching moment for building character. What to do?

2. You have lots of errands and your kids are with you. They didn’t want to come. They complain. “How long will this take? When are we going home? I want to play with my friends.” This is another time for building character. What to do?

3. You’re taking the children out for a hamburger treat. You want to please them. One child demands “Wendy’s” and the other yells “Burger King.” They argue with each other and with you. “I want Wendy’s. I want Burger King. You never go where I want.” This is another teaching moment for building character. What to do?

Almost all parents face car fights. It drives them crazy. Their emotions rise. They want to be logical but anger takes over. They yell. They threaten. The fighting stops. They regret yelling. They feel guilty. They like the peace.

You have discipline choices. Consider 3 logical consequences below:

1. Pull over to a safe place. If you’re on the freeway, take the next off ramp. Tell your kids, “We’re not moving until you stop fighting.”

2. For each complaint say, “That’s another errand.” Add it to your schedule.

3. Count out loud to 3. If they don’t quit fighting turn the car around and go home. No lectures. No yelling. No treats.

Of course, you could yell and lecture. It might stop the fighting until the next time. There will be a next time. You’ve just modeled how yelling solves your problems. Why shouldn’t they yell just like you? You’ve also brought yourself down to their level and lost power.

Avoid getting emotional. Stay in control. Act with logic. Practice the above solutions over and over. You’ll be showing your children you mean what you say and you say what you mean. Your words will earn respect.

Article Source: http://www.parentingarticlelibrary.com

Jean Tracy, MSS invites you to receive 80 Fun Activities to Share with Your Kids when you sign up for her Free Newsletter at www.KidsDiscuss.com

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