Parenting. Even though we’ve been doing it for millennia, it’s still a work in progress. Despite generations of knowledge and experience, it seems like it always comes down to a situation. Weather it’s after bedtime, sleep deprivation, or running on leftover mac and cheese, you will do just about anything to get your kid into the bath. This is how any well-meaning parent can fall into certain parenting “traps.” Without some kind of course correction, these can become patterns that become more and more difficult to break. Think of it like a quicksand—you get sucked in bit by bit until you’re stuck.
But, armed with some good information going in, a parent is less likely to give in to the initial allure of the trap. You will be more likely to recognize it as it’s happening. Here are some of the most common parenting traps, adapted from the Positive Parenting Program’s list of common parenting mistakes
1. The Escalation Trap
The escalation trap can happen in two different ways. The first is when the child escalates. Perhaps your child wants something—a candy bar or to play a video game. You tell him, “No, it’s too close to dinner,” or “You’ve already used up your screen time for today.” The child responds with whining, begging or even a tantrum, and he keeps it up until you’re worn down and you eventually give in, thinking to yourself that you’ll do anything to stop the whining. CONTINUE READING.
