Watch this video [1:14] for my tip on how to handle a kid who wants to argue. Trust me, it works!

Polly Bath: We have all dealt with the kid who talks back and argues. But what’s the best technique we can use when someone wants to argue?

Stop talking. It’s an incredible response.

When we do this, what eventually happens to the other person? They stop talking too, because they can’t have a one sided argument. It just doesn’t happen.

This is not easy though. It’s really hard to just stop talking under those circumstances.

That’s why I always say, if you want to change what the kids do, then we have to change the way we respond to them. When we respond differently, we get something back a little different from the child.

If I engage in the argument, then the arugment is only going to continue. But if I stop talking–and maybe I might nod, maybe I might validate their concern, even if I think it’s crazy–then the argument is going to stop a lot faster.