What to do when children are stubborn 2026

The first thing to do is not forget that it is normal for them to be stubborn like this. And at this age, children are learning to think for themselves. Stubbornness has its positive side!

We must understand their rebellion and stubbornness as positive signs and be understanding. If a child of this age did not show any signs of opposition or stubbornness, if he was satisfied with everything, we would be looking at a child who has a great fear of exposing his desires and his inner world.

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What can we do?

We will have to manage to allow our child to express his desires, his rhythm, his vitality and his disagreement without stifling his personality, but without leaving him exempt from references and at the mercy of his crazy impulses. These are some ideas to achieve this.

Sometimes you have to give in. And there is no need to be afraid, because precisely the worst parents are those who constantly prohibit and force. The real challenge is knowing how to set few, but totally effective, limits. If we choose a few basic rules and maintain them firmly and lovingly over time, we can afford to relax when our child wants to do up the buttons on his shirt by himself or decide what he wants to eat today.

Children want and need to know why they can't do what they want and what their parents expect of them. There is no point in prohibiting without explaining.

If we know that we are guaranteed to have an argument every time we pass by that toy store on the way to the park, the best option is to change route. Offering alternatives is another good technique. And removing 'temptations' from your sight will also make everything more bearable.

The best way to prevent us from ending up in a tantrum is persuasion. Sometimes it works, although it's hard to believe. It's about redirecting their stubbornness along paths that are a little more bearable for everyone.

In certain circumstances, rather than eliminating their stubbornness, what is best for us is to enhance it. For example, many insist on protecting their new little brother tooth and nail, so we can be delighted to have such an effective and responsible 'guardian'.

Don't be scared if...

Perhaps the most important advice to deal with the stubbornness or stubbornness of our children is to arm ourselves with patience and empathy: they are the two key tools to manage any situation and know how to deal with any behavior of children. We must know that the root of many of these behaviors is frustration, a feeling that is difficult to manage even for adults, which is why it is even more difficult for children.

Violeta Alcocer is a psychologist.