Does anyone have ideas on discipline for a 7 year old smart-mouth and know-it-all?

Question

My 7 year old son is a real sassy mouth and loves to argue. He is to old for time-out and I don't really spank.

Answer 1

Get eye level, three to four inches away from there face ,get and hold eye contact. You don't have to yell but use a forceful tone of voice. Keep it short ex. do not talk to me like that, that's it.

Answer 2

A 7 year old with emotional problems needs counseling. Can you take her to a counselor who can help her work out her problems? As far as disciplining goes, if she deliberately goes anywhere again without your permission, the logical consequence of that is to take away that privilege. i.e. no more riding the bus until she can be trusted. Take her to and from school or pay a friend to do it. A 7 year old should ride no other bus alone except a school bus, anyway. If it is the school bus, talk to the driver so it doesn't happen again. Tell him not to let her off the bus anywhere except at her own stop. You are a GOOD person to take on this responsibility. It won't be easy until the child feels safe and happy with you...that just takes time. I'd not let her use a bad mouth, either. Simply tell her that in your house that kind of language is not allowed. If she uses it, you will discipline her. She will be sent to her bed and given a book to read, but not be allowed to do anything else for an hour each time she misbehaves. I do hope you find her a counselor, though. Start by asking the counselor at her school for guidance.

Answer 3

too old for time out and you don't spank. Well there is the option of taking away games or whatever. But I think you are in for some serious fighting. Personal view is that the reason he is smart mouthed is because you have been lax in punishment and have allowed this behavior in the past. Try the spanking, he'll get the point.

Answer 4

Restrictions are best if you don't believe in spanking. All video games, remove the tv from his room, no telephone calls, and a stricter schedule. Go to school, come home, homework, read a book, shower, and go to bed. 7 year olds are pretty free and not having the freedom that they are used to will drive them to behave. If your husband is there, have him to give your son a stern intimidating talking to. And on the more constructive side, stress to him so that he understands that what he is doing is unacceptable and any time he slips up, don't let it slide. As a parent, you have to let him know that when you tell him to do something, he can't get away with telling you to do it. You have to be the parent and show him you mean business. Good luck!

Answer 5

So you don't spank and you don't do time-out. That's fine. Those things don't always work anyway. What are some things that mean the most to your son? When my daughter (age 9) gets sassy-mouthed and rude, I send her to her room. She can play in there if she wants to, but when she comes out, she is not allowed to play with her friends, or watch tv (she has a few favorite shows), have her favorite snack or play with her friends, or whatever it is that I decide is the best thing to withhold from her. If she gives me a reaction that seems like she doesn't care, I up the punishment a tad so that I know that even with a "I don't care how you punish me" attitude, I will know that the punishment will have its effect. I don't go overboard - I just pick something that I know she likes to do, eat or have, and I withhold it from her for a specified amount of time. I also tell her that she can't come out of her room until she is ready to be respectful and nice. Sooner or later, even if she enjoys playing in her room, the simple fact that she is not allowed out of her room will bother her to the point to where she has no choice but to be more respectful and polite if she wants to be allowed out of her room.

Answer 6

If he's like this at 7 you have a real problem but luckily he's still in the range where it can be fixed. You are WAY to light on him, and you are not FIRM with him. You have just a short window to fix this, so do it now. Get FIRM, tell him what to do, don't ask, and expect compliance. You can't just spank a kid all the time, save that for outright disobedience, although you may find in your situation you need to do this a few times right away, if you are wanting to make a change. I hope you are wanting to, because his future is at stake. If he can't deal effectively at home at 7 what is he going to do at 13 when he as to walk into a much bigger world, and then at 18 when he has to walk into the whole world?

Answer 7

Get over it. The reason the kid back-talks you is because he knows you aren't gonna do jack about it. Smack him in the mouth once and give him a mean look. Act like you're not sorry even if you are. Kids are expert at taking advantage of the soft spots in adults. As long as you don't show the kid any softness toward unacceptable behavior, as long as he knows you're serious when you tell him to shut up (or something like that) he won't backsass you. Seriously, that's what's wrong with kids these days - parents have forgotten the meaning of discipline.

Answer 8

You need to come up with a system of punishments and rewards.

Your son needs to know that you will not change your mind or give in.

Kids often clone the behavior of their parents or older siblings. Are you a know-it-all? Do you speak sarcastically to your child? You need to demonstrate proper behavior at all times.

Answer 9

Spanking worked for mine but change time out to an age-related "grounding" such as take away tv time, or whatever his "fun time activities" are until he learns that actions have consequences, good or bad.

Answer 10

start taking away fun activity, no family outing , don't reward bad ,but praise the good that he does. take parenting class it doesn't hurt. helps you deal wit stress and anger mangement with not only your child but other people.

kids do only what you allow them to do. you are the parent not the friend. respect , rules and relationship with your child. ignoring your child helps to a certain extinct also. when he is ready to act like a child and not a adult have him to speak..