We live in a world where kids are exposed to a lot of screens and electronics, even if we don't want them to be. Parents often do their best to limit screen time, but sometimes, kids don't love being told their time is up. When does simple frustration over being told no turn into a bigger issue?
A 6-year-old had an epic meltdown during a recent video game session, and his parents turned to the Reddit Parenting forum for insight into whether the child's behavior was out of line.
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The kid was apparently crying while playing a video game.
The original poster explained that their child was totally worked up over a video game, and when their wife went to calm him down, he told her to "Get your F—ing hands off of me!"
OP stepped in and told the child there was no way he should be talking to anyone like that, especially not his parents, and took his electronics away indefinitely. This didn't go over well, and the child's meltdown escalated.
He told his parents he hated the whole family.
His tantrum was so aggressive he woke up his brother, and OP is really concerned.
"He woke up his two year old brother in the process and he was terrified listening to what was going on. This isn't the first time he's said the 'hate' stuff but the 'get your hands off me' was a complete shock. We don't speak to anyone that way in this house and I'm besides myself trying to figure out where this behavior is coming from," OP wrote and asked for any advice.
Some Redditors thought OP should try using gentle parenting.
One person suggested that OP address the situation calmly.
"If screens make you that angry or sad, maybe its better if you dont have screens, because I dont want you to be angry or sad. Lets take a break for a while and try screens again in a week maybe," the person advised OP tell the boy.
This person agreed and commented, "Correcting a behavior while the child is dysregulated never works. It's counterproductive. Next time, calm him down first by comforting him. Then tell him why it's wrong to speak that way.
"He will probably feel very guilty so have him apologize," the person added. "Don't take it personally. ETA Tell him that you're taking screens away not as punishment but because they are causing him to become upset."
Others thought the video games were the issue.
Plenty of Redditors think the boy is too young for video games.
"Time to get him off of video games. Join a pool with a swim team, summer camp little league summer sports," one person suggested. "He is a boy and has tons of pent up energy. He needs a place to channel it. Sports, outside anything, he will be too tired at night to play video games."
And this one who commented, "He shouldn't be playing video games at 6. He definitely shouldn't be playing if he can't regulate his emotions which duh he's 6."
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They may just need a compromise.
This person offered a solution that would give both OP and his son what they wanted.
"I have been through very similar situations with my son. They get too into the game and the best thing is to just put them away for awhile," the person suggested. "I try to limit video games to an hour a day (and not everyday). Kids are still learning how to control their emotions and it seems like you are doing the right thing in guiding him in the right direction."
