This is the All Pro Dad podcast, where in each episode, dads of all ages dive into just one question. Today, we ask, “My kid is acting out. Now what?”

Grocery store tantrums. Refusing to follow directions. The list of ways kids act out goes on and on. Acting out is how kids test their limits, learn their voice, and, in a way, mature. But it can be incredibly frustrating for parents to see their child acting out. Ted Lowe, Jason Hood, and Buck Buchanan talk about what they’ve done to try to keep their kids from becoming disruptive or disrespectful.

One thing that helps when you have a child acting out is to run his or her behavior through this series of questions:

1. 1. Is this a first-time behavior?
2. 2. Is this childish behavior or willful disobedience?
3. 3. Did I clearly communicate what our family values in this situation?
4. 4. Am I making it easy for my kid to talk to me about tough things?
5. 5. What, if any, consequence should there be?
6. 6. Is there an underlying issue that contributed to my child’s behavior?
7. 7. What can I do to help my kid learn from this experience?
   
   

Understanding why your child is behaving a certain way will help you address it appropriately.

Today’s Pro Move: Choose one situation with your kid that you are unsure how to handle, and run it through the seven questions above.