Brooke Blogs This

First let me start by saying, I understand that ÿelling" isn't the most preferable way to speak to my children, or anyone for that matter.  But, occasionally, I find it necessary.  And I don't plan to apologize. Why do I yell?  Most often, because I've tried the speak clearly, calmly, sternly...and my kids are still talking over me.  Whining. Being loud.  Doing exactly what I am trying to tell them to not do. Sometimes I yell because the situation calls for it, like when my 6 year old is about to touch a hot stove, or my eleven year old is about to ride his bike into the back of my car. Occasionally, I yell because I'm at the end of my rope. And I NEED to get that point across. I can here some of you parenting experts out there listing all kinds of other options.  Get their attention, get on their eye level, speak calmly but sternly.  Give them natural consequences.  Divert their attention. I do these, I really do.  I am the QUEEN of ...

I read an interesting article that proposes that spanking your child lowers your childs IQ. I thought the article brought up several good points about how stress and emotional factors could affect a person's IQ, but I don't necessarily buy the fact that you hare intellectually harming your child by spanking him. The study does not seem to account for differences such as class, parents educational level, etc that also play a big part of a person's IQ. I also do not see how a spanking, done properly, causes more stress or emotional harm of any other discapline, done properly. Now I do agree, that frequent spankings, could cause damage emotionally, and in my opinion that also borders on abuse. I think it really comes down to parents needing to know how and when to discapline and when to just ignore a behavior or redirect. Read the article for yourself here