Erica Reischer on “But Dad lets me do it!”

Give kids credit for trying to get what they want, says parent coach and psychologist Erica Reischer. But to keep the endless back-and-forth in check, follow this one guideline.

by: The GreatSchools Editorial Team

Learn more about Oakland psychologist and parent coach Erica Reischer.

Here’s how 4 other parenting experts say to respond…

Richard Weissbourd
“Are you on the same highway with your partner?” asks The Parents We Mean to Be author Richard Weissbourd. If not, make sure you get there to avoid constant conflict. Format: Video (1:20)

Adele Faber
The co-author of the seminal How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk offers an example of how to respond to this wily kid comment. Format: Article

Jane Nelsen
The bestselling author of Positive Discipline says that by keeping your response short and sweet, you’ll avoid unnecessary conflict. Format: Article

Heidi Allen Garvin
Heidi Allen Garvin, founder of the popular website Mormon Moms, says parents should avoid creating a dynamic that pits parents against each other. Here’s how. Format: Article

About the author

The GreatSchools Editorial Team

GreatSchools.org is a national nonprofit with a mission to help every child obtain a high-quality education that values their unique abilities, identities, and aspirations. We believe in the power of research-backed, actionable information to empower parents, family members, and educators to help make this happen. For 25 years, the GreatSchools Editorial Team has been working to make the latest, most important, and most actionable research in education, learning, and child development accessible and actionable for parents through articles, videos, podcasts, hands-on learning resources, email and text messaging programs, and more. Our team consists of journalists, researchers, academics, former teachers and education leaders — most of whom are also dedicated parents and family members — who not only research, fact check, and write or produce this information, but who use it in our daily lives as well. We welcome your feedback at editorial@greatschools.org.