Parents: Have do you get a child to stop laughing at you when your scolding him?

Question

He's funny to. but doesn't see me laugh.
13yr old (popular band/nerd type)
curls up in ball with hand up pretending to be sorry and scared. (Never hurt I should add)

Im really angry like tell him something over and over

stightly chubby kid, can take a slap if I can reach him

Answer 1

I laugh when my parents scold. It's probably because they're too nice to seem really angry at me. I don't know if that will help.

Answer 2

My kids are 8 and 3, not as old as yours I understand, but they never laugh when I scold them ether.
Like last night when I was putting my boys to bed my 8 year old asked me if he could listen to music while he fell asleep, I said no and what did I find 10 minuends latter under his pillow ON, his MP3 player. So yes I scolded him for it, but I also took it away and told him that he couldn't have it back for a few days, and the more he asked for it the more days it would be taken away. He wasn't laughing he just said ok.
My point is that if all your doing is scolding and you don't do anything else then basically the kids got away with what ever they did wrong, in there mind anyways. There has to be a real punishment, that goes with the scolding.
A scolding without action is nothing but empty words.

Answer 3

This is such an awesome question....However, I have no suggestions. I am dealing with my 7 year old daughter who does the same thing. I know she doesn't mean to make me angry...but I usually do get very frustrated. I think it is nervous energy. I try to understand because I remember doing this myself to my mother and father. I really wanted to stop but I remember feeling like I couldn't. When my father was mad I remember being so nervous that I would laugh. I can't explain it. It is funny that my daughter now does it. When she does it I just want to lose it though. Good luck.. I will be reading the other responses along with you.

Answer 4

Great question. I think it's because he thinks he's way cooler than you. Most of all, he doesn't think you understand his situation. He's laughing because he's blocking out everything you say and just enjoying it. It's because he doesn't respect you.
The best way to handle it is to give him some kinds of punishment. You say he likes bands. Take away his CDs, boombox, computer, etc. He'll change when you take something important away from him. He won't be laughing anymore. he still won't respect you, but he won't be laughing.
It's really hard to deal with this kind of situation. I think that you should try to get across to him that you completely understand his pressures and problems. When he thinks you're more like him than he thinks, he might start to respect you.

Answer 5

If my son laughs while I'm scolding him, I stop and say, "Okay, as soon as you get control of yourself, we'll finish talking." Then I sit and wait. I don't frown or act angry or shame him. I just sit with a kind face until he settles down.

I think kids are sometimes embarrassed or nervous when we scold them, so they laugh. My son sometimes says, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I can't stop!" Other times, I think kids are really amused by their misbehavior. In either case, they don't want the discipline session to stretch out longer than it has to. If I tell my son we will finish the discussion after he stops laughing, he is highly motivated to stop. Oh, and I don't let him leave. I make him sit there with me until he gets control and we finish.

Answer 6

Honestly now. My son is the same way, and is now 14. He still does this. Laughing is a "nervous tick." It releases endorphins in the brain. Some kids cry, to get this same release.

Answer 7

Physical is not the answer.
I'd say it's his defense mechanism to you being angry. If when he's laughing you get frustrated and leave, then it's working. You could start the scolding, he starts laughing, you stop and wait for him to stop. If he doesn't stop laughing, you stand there and wait. If it's taking awhile, you could ask (some sarcastic some authority), "You going to let me finish or are we going to sit here listening to you chuckle for the rest of the day?" I agree with the 'quiet angry' is worse than 'loud angry.'

Answer 8

lol..thats funny..im around that age and not a band geek but know them a liltle to know that band geeks dont really do much wrong. if he is just being lazy tell him to get offf his *** and do something. if he is chubby, tell him to go find friends to hang with and get exercize. My mom once locked me out of the house and it did wonders. Lost 10lb in two weeks

Answer 9

Let him laugh. Then the next thing he wants really badly - he can't hve it. Get a scold calendar - each mark is a demerit. Not getting wot you want takes the smile off yr face quicker than anything! Discuss it. Wish you luck. Hardest time is with pubescents. Tell him: "Leave home - get a job - while you still know everything!"

Answer 10

Take something he really loves away and hide it. Laugh at him when he asks you if you know where it is.
Laugh at him when he wants to know if he can have or get something.
Tell him you seen this really nice "Top/ Game...." but you dont think he deserves it. If he has any brothers or sisters give them something and when he wants to know where is his, start laughing. Give him back his own medicine.