Why Persistent Parenting Pays Off

I recently had a parent in my office who was interested in trying a new way of dealing with her son. She was feeling good about the whole process, until she asked, "So how long until he changes his behavior?" 5 Effective Alternatives To Spanking Your Kids

I paused for a moment and then said, "One day longer than he thinks you will give up." She said, "I was afraid you'd say that. He knows I'll try something, and that I can get pretty impatient. Sometimes it seems like he's waiting me out!"

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She was having the same problem many of us deal with: giving up on a new parenting idea too early. Recent books and articles have focused on the fact that it takes weeks to turn a new behavior into a habit. It takes just as long for our kids to adjust to our new behavior.

The biggest challenge, at this point, is holding the line — not giving up too soon. The "I tried that … It didn't work" thoughts can bubble up very quickly. 2 Types Of Parents: Which One Are You?

How long should you keep trying? Days, weeks, months? Consider trying a new approach for at least three weeks. Yes, that seems like a long time, especially when your child is struggling. But unless you give it a few weeks, it probably won't work. 

Here's what will be happening in your child's head when you are trying something new, from week to week:

Week One: "I guess she read a new parenting book. Here we go again. I'll just wait her out."

Week Two: "This is getting pretty tiring. She usually gives up by now. Let me wait a little longer."

Week Three: "I think she means it. She's not giving up."

Your mileage might be different, but I am suggesting three weeks so that you don't give up too early. If you know you have a tough, persistent child, it would be a good idea to increase your persistence to five or six weeks. I know it seems that is a long time, but the longer you try a proven technique, the greater the chances that it will be effective. 3 Powerful Parenting Secrets

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