Knowing How To Say “No”

It seems simple, your child makes a request that you think is not worthy of an affirmative response. “10 more minutes of television please” or even “I want to have candy after dinner!”. It seems implausible but when I glance over at parents - I see that they have been abated into parental abandonment and emotional torture when their own children are unable to take “no” for an answer.

How Can You Say “No”

From the person who cleans the floor, to the individuals at the top of the corporate chain, the word “no” is something that they need to deal with and overcome. What would happen every time someone objected to an idea that Bill Gates had and he started screaming at the technology professional? Or if the young man who asked for a raise after 2 years of loyal service left to go to a competitor? The world would not be a very happy or productive place if people could not understand that certain things have certain answers.

As a great parent, I encourage you to help your child understand why a certain response is put in place. When delivering the message - it is important for your child to understand why you must not yield to their whims. 

For example: “I’m sorry, you can’t have that extra scoop of ice cream because we need to save some for the next time we have dessert” would be a good way to pacify your child when they are looking for more food. If your child is screaming at the top of their lungs wanting a toy that you think is beyond their toy budget, tell them, “We have a certain amount set aside for your toy budget sweetheart. We need to save for other things that you want and need such as food, clothing, and your activities that you like so much.” Help your child understand what the reasons are for the disapproval on their childhood request form, a not not just “No”.

Why You Should Learn To Say “No”

This will definitely help as your child learns to regulate their emotions and manage expectations that they have of you, and the rest of the world. Think about it, your role as a parent isn’t to make them happy at every moment of their life, but to prepare them for the life that they are about to live under your guidance. Understanding how to deal with adversity and the simplicity of things will result in a happy, more self-reliant young adult.