TEACH CHILDREN HOW TO SAY NO WHEN THEY WANT TO SAY NO
PARENT: I want to help my children be able to say no when
they want to say no. Any suggestions?
SANDY: Great question. Children who have a parent as an ally
for saying no are more likely to say no to a negative situation. If my
children called me and prefaced any question with “Mommy Dearest” it
was a signal to say no --even if they argued with me.
Teach your children how to repeat an answer in a “oatmeal” tone
of voice to use boredom as their ally: “I don’t want to see that movie
tonight.” (repeat exact words many times). “I am not going to drink
alcohol with you tonight.” (repeat exact words many times.) “I don’t
ever smoke anything when I don’t know what it is.” (repeat exact words
many times.) This form of the “broken record” gives the child a tool
with which to stand up to peer pressure.
Copyright (C) Sandy Spurgeon McDaniel, 2000