Should You Explain Decisions to Kids?

How should parents react when their child isn’t happy with their decision? One parent recently asked me for talking points to explain why her 8-year-old son couldn’t play the “Call of Duty” video game. But talking points aren’t going to get you where you want to be. By the way her question was worded, I could tell that what she wanted is with the “right” explanation that, when she presented it to her 8-year-old son, he will look at her and say, “Gee, Mom. When you put it that way, I totally get why I can’t play ‘Call of Duty.’ ‘Cooking Fever’ is definitely more appropriate for me.”

This mother fell into the trap that many parents can’t avoid stepping into these days: That if you just say it in the right way, with the right data to back it up, your child will see the light and agree with you. But that’s a fantasy because it. Will. Never. Happen.

In this week’s video blog, I discuss how parents can respond to their child’s protests about unpopular decisions.