Attitudes & Backtalk

 

Back talk, smarting off, and being fresh are disrespectful because they do

not recognize the power structure of the family. The child is either treating
parents as subordinates by giving orders or as peers by criticizing, using
sarcasm, swearing, name calling, or not complying. Although it is important
to consider children’s ideas, when parents do not “carry the weight in the
family,” it is like sailing a boat with no ballast—the boat will capsize!

WHY CHILDREN TALK BACK

Understanding the following sources of disrespect can help parents take it
less personally and free their minds to have a quick-witted response:

• Young children talk back to test the limits of their power by ordering
  and verbally refusing to comply. High-energy children are especially
  prone to back talk because their exuberance gives them a confusing
  sense of strength.

• Adolescents talk back as a part of their struggle to establish their
  own identity and independence. They are critical of parents about
  almost everything—being too strict, too overprotective, old
  fashioned, or “clueless.”

• Children of all ages will talk back when parents engage in power
  struggles with them.

• Comments that parents make out of hurt and anger can provoke
  disrespectful retorts from children.

• Children who are being empowered by another adult who is
  undermining the parent’s authority will talk back.

• Children who feel too powerful because parents don’t take action to
  establish their authority or too powerless because parents are
  overbearing will talk back.

• Children who have not learned respectful ways to disagree or
  express anger will talk back. This includes almost all children.

HOW TO RESPOND TO BACK TALK

Telling a child not to talk back or to be more respectful will inspire the
opposite. Psychologists usually advise parents to be consistent. In the case
of back talk, it is important for parents to use a variety of responses.
Surprisingly, the gentlest responses often produce better results than
intense ones. Consequences will be more powerful when they are not
overused. The following suggest levels of responding to back talk:

     1.        Label what the child is feeling without making any judgment.
                Fight back talk with feedback. This increases children’s
                awareness of what they are doing without triggering a power
                struggle—”You really like to give me orders.”  “You seem quite
                disappointed in me.” “You’re frustrated with the way I worry.”
     2.        Sympathize to defuse anger—”It’s really hard being 3 years old
                and having to learn so many rules.” “It’s very frustrating to lose
                that taste of freedom.”
     3.        Being playful can increase awareness and break tension.
                Excuse yourself to get your broomstick if your child is treating
                you like the Wicked Witch of the West. Ask “Do I get demerits
                for that?” “How many IQ points do you think I’ve lost?” “Am I a
                completely hopeless worrywart or am I trainable?”
     4.        Match the child’s attitude and back talk for him or her in your
                sassiest voice.
     5.        Model appropriate ways to disagree or express anger. Talking
                as though you are the child, say “Mom, I disagree with your
                decision. Are you willing to hear my idea?”
     6.        Never take orders. Let children know that you cannot help them
                when they talk disrespectfully. Do not argue with verbal
                noncompliance. Simply withhold privileges until a task is
                complete.
     7.        Postpone discussions until you are calm enough to listen and
                until your child has more composure. Encourage your child
                (and yourself) to talk to a friend, write, or engage in some
                activity that will help you each be more objective.
     8.        Swearing can be handled like back talk and other disrespectful
                language. Focus on acceptable expression of feelings instead
                of punishment. If you are comfortable with it, allow children to
                use the “rhyming method” of creating swearing substitutes to
                use during emotional moments.
     9.        Withhold privileges until children can restate their previous
                comments with desirable words and tone of voice, demonstrate
                understanding of your point of view, or talk about what is really
                bothering them.

Technically, back talk is an act of omission because children are failing to
talk in a desirable manner. They can easily be motivated to communicate
more effectively if you give them time to collect themselves and withhold key
privileges until they can perform the task in number 9 above. Putting a child
on restriction for back talk is like trying to kill a mosquito with a machete and
does little to teach desirable expression.

THE SILENT TREATMENT

Some children prefer pouting, withdrawing, or “the silent treatment” to back
talk. Simply require such children to tell you or write you a letter about what
is bothering them before they can use the phone, eat snacks, or have other
privileges. If you do this, you must be willing to feedback their feelings and
sympathize with their viewpoint (although you may not change your
position). If you attempt to dispute feelings, the approach will not work and
the negative attitude will continue!


Reference

Several books elaborate on skills that improve communication with children:
Between Parent and Child and Between Parent and Teenager by Haim
Ginott (Avon 1969, 1971) and How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So
Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish (Avon, 1980).