Camilla McGillWarm, practical, judgement-free parenting support

She had a tantrum when I said no to icecream at bedtime-what do I do?

Name: She had a tantrum when I said no to icecream at bedtime-what do I do?
Uploaded: 2024-04-21T16:00:07+00:00
Duration: 53 s
Channel: Camilla McGill
Description: In this short parenting advice video, the presenter introduces a simple, empathy‑based technique for handling a child’s request that conflicts with…

21 Apr 2024 · 1 min

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In this short parenting advice video, the presenter introduces a simple, empathy‑based technique for handling a child’s request that conflicts with bedtime rules, such as asking for ice cream. Instead of a blunt refusal that can trigger a tantrum, she recommends using an "empathy plus yes‑when" approach: acknowledge the child’s desire, validate it, and then say yes to a future opportunity (e.g., tomorrow after lunch). She illustrates the phrasing, suggests following up with a question about flavor choice, and frames the method as a gentle yet firm way to set boundaries. The video concludes with a call to action, inviting viewers to join her "Parent Survival Fivell Academy" course for more gentle parenting strategies.

Chapters

Get ready for this one. It's so simple, I guarantee you're going to want to use it straight away. My clients tell me all the time how helpful it is. When your child asks you for something you won't let them have, for example, it's bedtime and they ask for ice cream, here's what we usually say that will often trigger a tantrum: 'Absolutely not! It's bedtime! What makes you think you can have an ice cream now?' Instead, use empathy plus 'yes, when.' So here's how it goes: 'Oh, you really wish you could have an ice cream now. I get it. Yes, you can definitely have some ice cream tomorrow after lunch.' Then you might ask something like, 'What flavor are you going to choose?' If you want to learn a gentle approach to parenting like this, which combines it with firm boundaries, drop a 'yes' below for the details of my course, The Parent Survival Fivell Academy. It's closing soon.