5 Ways to Deal with a Disrespectful Adolescent

I know firsthand that dealing with a disrespectful child can be very trying and difficult. Still, it must be dealt with, or it will continue to happen. I have three children between the ages of 5 and 13, and disrespect comes in different forms from each one of them depending on their age and personality. One child has rolled her eyes at me, another has said things that are unacceptable and the youngest likes to tell me "no." If you are dealing with a disrespectful adolescent, try these five tips.

#1 Make it clear that it won't be tolerated

Letting your child know that a disrespectful attitude won't be tolerated is the first thing that must be done. If a child is allowed to treat their parents in a demeaning manner, they will continue to do so. Parents must stick to what they say and hand out punishment as necessary, or the cycle of disrespect will not be broken.

#2 Self-evaluate

If your child is being disrespectful, you need to take a moment to do a self-evaluation. While there is never an excuse for an adolescent to be disrespectful to an adult, it is helpful to know if there are things that you can change to help the situation. Ask yourself questions, such as the following:

*Am I being disrespectful to my child?
*Have I been short tempered?
*Am I taking care of my needs, so I can be a good parent?

#3 Talk things out

If your child is treating you with disrespect, you need to talk to them. Find out what is going on in their life that is causing them to treat you in a demeaning manner. You may decide to ask questions, such as the following:

*Did I say or do something to upset you?
*How was your day at school?
*Are you having a bad day?
*Did you get enough sleep?

Once your adolescent opens up by answering questions, continue to talk with them and work things out. For example, if they did have a bad day, ask them what made it bad.

#4 A day in the life of a parent

When adolescents are disrespectful repeatedly, having them spend a day in the life of a parent may be a good idea. This will give them a chance to see how much work a parent does for their children. Have your child help you cook, clean and perform other tasks.

#5 Spend quality time together

If your son or daughter is acting out in disrespect, it may be a sign that you need to spend some quality time together. Plan a fun outing where just the two of you can spend time together and talk. You may go to a restaurant or the mall. Avoid movies or other activities that will limit the ability to talk and communicate.

More from Rebecca Bardelli:

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