Reasons for Parents Not to Say "I Told You So"

I absolutely hated it when my parents said, "because I said so." From a child's point of view, it was really annoying and irritating; it made me want to not listen. When parents say "because I said so," children don't have a good reason not to challenging you. It's generic and unsatisfying for them to hear. It's a lazy argument, and there is no room for laziness in parenting.

Parents need to take the time to sit down and talk to their children about their behaviors and actions. Parents need to be honest with their children, and saying "because I said so" isn't being totally honest. Parents and children also need to communicate with each other all the time. When parents say "because I said so" it closes the door to open and honest communication.

If children understand why they should or shouldn't do something, chances are they'll listen. You can't just tell a child not to do something without a good reason. Children need to know that you're not being mean or authoritative, and have valid reasons for telling them things. If you don't have time then, "please trust me on this one" or "If you love me don't do that" or "because it's the right thing to do" work well. When children realize that their parents love them and only want what's best for them, they'll stop challenging you.