Joey & Carla Link
July 22, 2026
Have you caught yourself saying “Kids, stop doing that!” or “Don’t do that again!” or something like that to try and get your kids to get themselves under control? You know your kids know better, as you have gone over this very issue with them many times in the past. But for some reason, it seems they just get carried away and you have to remind them again, and again to settle down before someone gets hurt, and when they still don’t bring it down, you have to step in and control their behavior.
Parents need to control their kid’s behavior when they are little, but as kids reach the elementary years, they need to learn to manage their own behavior both at home and everywhere they go, no matter who they go with. They need to be a positive influence on others vs. others negatively influencing your kids behavior.
Your goal is to teach your kids how to be aware of their surroundings and others in it vs. letting others regulate them, being rowdy until a parent has to step in, which makes you the “mean parent” when you have to stop them.
Your goal mom and dad is for your kids to learn to bring their behavior back under control themselves vs. you having to do it for them. But do your kids have this skill yet? Can they learn to “read the room”, watching to see what the others are doing so they can keep things down to a low roar without you having to intervene?
If you have taught your kids what is right, and you have trained them in how to do it, now it comes down to your kids wanting to obey you and submit to your standards. Versus doing what they want to do, or letting siblings or friends entice them to change your standard, and then they act according to what others want.
This kind of scenario is a great opportunity to teach your kids two lessons:
1. How to control their own behavior no matter who is around vs. you controlling their behavior.
2. How to stand up to their siblings and peers to do what is right even though they are being heavily influenced to make wrong choices.
“Start children off on the way they should go,
and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”
Proverbs 22:6
Are you tired of controlling your kids behavior? Do you want your kids to follow through on what you have taught them? We encourage you to listen to a recent “Parenting Made Practical” podcast titled “Are You Controlling Your Kid’s Behavior or Training It?” You will get more encouragement and tips on how to stop reminding your kids and hold them accountable for how you have trained them to follow through with wise choices, even when their siblings and friends are encouraging them to make bad choices.
“How many times have I told you…” comes out of Mom’s mouth when she can’t believe her child did something again. Kids have self-control; they just don’t use it unless they want to. This presentation teaches parents of 5 and under how to begin getting self-control. It also gives parents of 5 and older 8 key areas parents need to train their kids in self-control character and suggestions on how to accomplish it. A child knows he is supposed to brush his teeth but doesn’t have the self-control to take the time to pull the brush out of the cup, put the tooth paste on it and brush his teeth, yet later that day he has the self-control to dribble a soccer ball with his foot with other teammates on the practice field which takes a lot of self-control. The same is true for their character!
Use code JULY26 at checkout by July 26, 2026 for $1 off the MP3 & PDF
Parenting Made Practical Podcasts
Are You Controlling Your Kid’s Behavior or Training It?
It’s natural for parents to control their kid’s behavior growing up. Eventually, kids need to learn to manage their own behavior both in the home and everywhere else to be a positive influence vs. others influencing them.
Click the title or search Parenting Made Practical in your favorite
podcast app to listen!