How to make an 8 year old smile

[jdouglas003]

Whip him!

Yep that's right, give him a good old fashioned whipping.

Does it work? No.

But that's what this kid's mother did. I was taking some youth football team and individual pictures last week and this one kid was obviously not having a good day.

So his mom yelled at him and threatened him to get him to smile. When that didn't work she went ahead and whipped him - to motivate him to smile.

I wish I could show you all the resulting picture but I'm sure it would get me in trouble.

I couldn't believe it, but it happened. I'd never seen that particular approach before.

[gjl711]

YIKES!!! Some people have strange ways of motivating their kids, but this ones down right stupid. Now maybe if the kid was 18, and it wasn’t his mom but his girlfriend, and she was gussied up in black leather and he was getting whipped he might smile. But that’s still 10 years down the road.

[jdouglas003]

Now maybe if the kid was 18, and it wasn’t his mom but his girlfriend, and she was gussied up in black leather and he was getting whipped he might smile. But that’s still 10 years down the road.

Funny :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Curtis N]

If I were king, people would be required to pass an IQ test before being allowed to reproduce.

[gjl711]

If I were king, people would be required to pass an IQ test before being allowed to reproduce.
That’s a bit harsh, I have known some idiots who have reproduced and they have been great parents and have great kids. I also know some highly intelligent people who are horrible parents and should never have had kids. Maybe what we need is some form of test or license to procreate. Then when you rant about loosing your fu*king license you really mean it. ;)

[Curtis N]

Yeah, we would need a different kind of IQ test. I have a learning-disabled niece who is absolutely wonderful with babies and children.

Gotta feel sorry for that kid.

[BillsBayou]

I've actually told my kids "Knock off the crying or I'll give you something to cry about."

Sometimes a child is fussy and crying because of their poor outlook on a situation. "You get out of it what you put into it," is something I tell my older kids. "You're CHOOSING to have a bad time," is another.

I don't "whip" my kids, but I'll give them an attention getting swat on the rear if they're acting out against others. It's the best way I've found to shock them out of a tantrum. You can actually see it in their faces. "Whaa I want this" "Whaa I want that" "I don't WANT this!" (throwing something at someone else) *SWAT* on the butt and they pause and I've taken the steam out of their rant. "Now knock it off. This is the way things are going to be and you will either enjoy yourself or you will be quiet."

I'm also rather resolute in my punishment. I don't reward tantrums. If they whine for something, I take something away. If they continue, they get more taken away. If they whine for it back, more is gone. It's only when they've been quiet enough for ME to calm down that negotiations will open up for the return of their liberties; 5 minutes to 5 days depending on the infraction.

I can see a swat on the butt to get someone to knock off the tantrum and start having fun. Sometimes kids need to be kicked back into play (so to speak).

[lostdoggy]

Can't be much of a parent if you don't know how to make your own child laugh and smile.

[BillsBayou]

Can't be much of a parent if you don't know how to make your own child laugh and smile.

LOL! Can't be much of a parent if you think you can make your child do anything they don't want to do.

I take offense to your comment. When a child is throwing a tantrum, it's THEIR tantrum. When a teenager throws a mood, it's THEIR mood. You can NOT be there for every single child in your brood when one of them is demanding ALL of your attention.

There are many places where children don't want to go where you can't be their personal entertainment coordinator:
Church
Weddings
The Boss's Bar-B-Que ("You have to bring your kids, Bill, they'll have a blast!")
Older/Younger siblings party events.
Sporting events
Recitals
Museums
Any other event where they're expected to sit still.
Any event where they're not the center of attention.
Any event where they've just had their feelings hurt.
Any event where you won't buy them every single thing in the souvenir shop.
Any event where you're dealing with the tantrum being thrown by a sibling and you're stuck trying to make THAT one smile while the other's are whining that the youngest ruins everything.

[jdouglas003]

Can't be much of a parent if you don't know how to make your own child laugh and smile.

I have to admit that a lot times I can't even get my own kids to smile for pictures when I'm taking them.

I might threaten to whip their butts but I would never actually whip them and then expect for them to smile on request for a picture.

I keep talking to them or I might pull them over to the side and whisper something in their ear and I do eventually get them to smile (most of the time).

I can bribe my daughter but my son is a bit more difficult.

I personally hated having my picture taken as a child and still even as an adult. :evil:

[barryburgard]

Curtis,
This is my field as a school psychologist. A learning disability does not mean the child is not smart. In fact, it means the child has average or better intelligence. There is a processing difficulty which inhibits certain brain functions from working normally. The child does some things well, and some things not so well.

Sorry. I had a little time on my hands and couldn't help myself.
Barry

[Curtis N]

Curtis,
This is my field as a school psychologist. A learning disability does not mean the child is not smart.I know. The term "learning disability" is very broad and often used as a euphemism for other terms which might be less politically correct but more descriptive.

I'm afraid I may have opened a can of worms.

But I still think any parent that thinks he can make a child smile through corporal punishment is either an idiot or just plain mean.

[BillsBayou]

I know. The term "learning disability" is very broad and often used as a euphemism for other terms which might be less politically correct but more descriptive.

I'm afraid I may have opened a can of worms.

But I still think any parent that thinks he can make a child smile through corporal punishment is either an idiot or just plain mean.

A swat on the butt = smiling? No.

I do, however, believe you can get a kid's attention with a swat on the butt. Then convince them to change their attitude towards their situation.

In my experience, a healthy child throwing a tantrum is stuck doing something they just don't want to do. This includes participation in sports, parties, games, and so on where you'd think they'd be sure to have fun. If I think a swat on the butt will be the conversation starter to get them to reconsider or just sit out on the fun in a corner, I'll do it. Not to be mean, but as a last resort.

[Curtis N]

I am not arguing for or against corporal punishment in general. I think plenty of well-adjusted kids have been raised with, and without, this particular disciplinary technique.

I do believe that children raised in homes with good discipline are more likely to cooperate in situations such as this, even if the smile is not genuine. Obviously, kids can get in foul moods and throw tantrums sometimes. It's part of being a kid. And even the most skilled parents can't always resolve such issues instantly. But it's more likely to reach a swift resolution if the parent has earned the child's respect. But that is a long-term process.

[gjl711]

Can't be much of a parent if you don't know how to make your own child laugh and smile. For my kids it was easy. All I had to do is say fart and they were on the floor laughing. Don't know why, bit it cracked them up.

..I take offense to your comment. When a child is throwing a tantrum, it's THEIR tantrum. When a teenager throws a mood, it's THEIR mood. You can NOT be there for every single child in your brood when one of them is demanding ALL of your attention......
Actually so do I. As a kid gets older they grow increasingly responsible for their own mood and anything you do to a teen is going to make matters worse, not better. Our rules were also quite simple. Bad behavior never was rewarded and rights/privileges were removed until the behavior changed. I didn’t care if you were having a bad time as long as you did not ruin it for those that were not. Our kids learned pretty quick that at times they would have to do something or go somewhere they really didn’t want to be at and it was in their best interest to keep their complaining to themselves.

[crazyskillz07]

This converstation makes me never want to have kids. I have 4 sisters and one brother. I am the youngest. I've only been hit at most 5 times and it was no more then a slap. Somehow my parents were able to keep my siblings and I all in line without the hitting. Or maybe at most once a year if that. I'm still young but from what iv've scene, parenting seems to be one of, if not the, hardest job.

[BillsBayou]

I don't remember which comedian said this: "If you really want to mess up your kids, laugh when you spank them."

[BillsBayou]

This converstation makes me never want to have kids.

"Having kids is great. You've got to have kids. They give your life purpose."

Telling young unmarried couples to have kids is a joke among those of us who've had them. Then when they're pregnant, we all sit back and laugh "HA! Fooled ya!" It makes our ordeal easier when we have more friends with kids. Plus, who wants to be saddled down with kids when their friends are out all night clubbing?

[20droger]

For my kids it was easy. All I had to do is say fart and they were on the floor laughing. Don't know why, bit it cracked them up.
Have you considered that it might have been the nature of your personal ones?

[20droger]

Plus, who wants to be saddled down with kids when their friends are out all night clubbing?
Baby seals?

[gjl711]

Have you considered that it might have been the nature of your personal ones? Ok, I am guilty of thundering around the house on occasion, but seriously, they are no more funny than a sneeze.
;)

[20droger]

Ok, I am guilty of thundering around the house on occasion, but seriously, they are no more funny than a sneeze.
;)
Have you asked your kids about your sneezes?

[lostdoggy]

I'm one of nine kids in my family, yeap a real baseball team here. Growing up I never really wanted to have kids of my own, but now that I have kids of my own I can never be without them. My first child, daughter, is a dream. Hardly ever complain and gets along with anybody. Every where we go people would compliment on how discipline she is and she still is. Three years ago we had our second child, a boy, man what a different. This kid will not stop moving. Require alot of whispering to stop him from doing what he was doing. But, overall he is controlable unlike some kids I see out there where the parent seems to just given up.

There are always time when a child acts up or just playfully sing whatever tune is on there mind. Most passerby would offend smile and just keep on walking. Then there comes Ms. Starchupundies fronding as she passes by as to say "why don't you keep that child quiet?" As such, I can relate to what you're saying Mr. Bill, kids will be kids and if they must sing they are going to sing no matter what you do or say!!!