How would you handle an unruly child?

Every parent loves and has a unique bond with their children. In the course of parenting however, most tend to ignore the disciplinary aspect when a child crosses the line.

Ele is a seven-year-old girl who lives with her parents and two-year-old brother. But her problem is she is very unruly, disrespectful and uncultured.

Her dad took everyone out on a Saturday evening; on their way back home, Ele told her dad she wanted him to buy some pastries for her but when he refused, she began to throw tantrums.

She even went as far as hitting the dad and as she did, he didn’t say a word. He kept smiling without rebuking her.

First of all, we need to understand who an unruly child is. An unruly child is a child who doesn’t obey parents, teachers or guardians.

In other words, an unruly child is disrespectful, lacks fear, and simply does what he/she likes.

Why are there unruly children? This is because most parents do not like their children to be touched or beaten by a spouse, and even a third party.

But then how would you handle an unruly child? Or if you were in Ele’s father’s shoes, what would you do to her?

LifeXtra sought for answers and we got varying opinions.

Russel Chimezie, an Abuja-based photographer, said he can’t tolerate such children. “This type of child can’t stay with me because I would flog him/her daily.”

“Your seven-year-old raises his/her hand on you and all you simply do is laugh, like nothing happened? There’s no way I would let that happen,” he added.

Concurring with Chimezie, Emmanuel Odeh, a student, added “All I can say is her father isn’t helping her because if he doesn’t correct that behaviour now, she will only get worse and the consequences would be very bad.”

Buttressing his point, Odeh reiterated that his nephew doesn’t try it. “The first time he tried it was when the mum wanted to get him dressed because we were all going out, and he started misbehaving. He was fighting his mum and when the mum spanked him, he began to cry; trying to gain the sympathy of everyone. But when he realised that we weren’t moved, he stopped it and since then he doesn’t do it.”

“So it’s all about training,” he concluded.

“I will beat her and discipline her thoroughly, then after some hours, I will call her and tell her why I did that,” said Uche Joshua, an IT Consultant.

Mrs. Mercy Ibeh, a mother of three, asked “Why would her father even allow it get to that stage? Or he thought that if he spanks her, it would make the daughter’s love for him to die?”

“Some parents are the ones spoiling their children with such attitude. Then when they become bad tomorrow, they would blame the devil.”

“I can`t let that happen. I will spank the child and later, I will let her know why I did that. After all, the holy book says the rod (cane) of discipline should be used to correct an erring child so that he wouldn`t become thankless later in life,” she concluded.

Miss Esther Ede, a Kindergarten teacher, outlines a few guidelines for parents with unruly children. “Remember that it is the child’s behaviour that is the problem -not the child, and the sad aspect of unruly behaviour is that the kid is ignorant about it.

“Set clear limitations for your child and make sure she sticks to them. Your child needs to know the precise activities and mannerisms expected of him. So, setting boundaries can be a very good idea.

“Parents should also mete out rational and logical punishments that are age-appropriate when they misbehave.”