Avoid

1. Blaming and accusing
“Can’t you ever listen to me?... How many times do I have to repeat myself?”

2. Name-calling
“You eat like a dirty pig… Only animals make sound when they eat.”

3. Threats
“If you are getting ready in five minutes, I am leaving without you.”

4. Commands
“I want you to take your bed in the next five minutes. Hurry up.”

5. Lecturing and Moralizing
“Don’t you think it is better to blah blah blah...”

6. Warnings
“If you grow up like this you’ll suffer when you’re older… Put on your slipper, otherwise you’ll get infection…”

7. Martyrdom Statements
“Stop shouting, are you trying to give me a heart attack… Wait till you have your children, you’ll know what suffering is… I have got more grey hairs thanks to you, I am going to my grave sooner.”

8. Comparisons
“Why can’t you be like your sister?”

9. Sarcasm
“You knew 4’o clock is your class. You left your karate uniform in your bag without putting it for wash. Good show. Very good. Haha.”

10. Prophecy
“You told me you won’t watch TV. But you broke your promise. If you grow up like this people will call you a liar. No one will trust you.”

- from the book 'How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk' by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish

--
I Am New,
Krish Murali Eswar.