Overview

• Child psychologist Reem Raouda’s findings, reported by the Daily Mail and New York Post, warn that commands and threats can trigger a fight-or-flight response that undermines cooperation in children.
• She advises replacing “Because I said so” with calm explanations such as “I know you don’t like this decision. I’ll explain, and then we’re moving forward” to acknowledge a child’s perspective.
• Instead of saying “If you don’t listen, you’ll lose [X privilege],” Raouda recommends offering a desired activity once the child meets a specific behavior to shift the power dynamic.
• To validate emotions, she urges parents to swap dismissive remarks like “Stop crying. You’re fine” for empathetic prompts such as “I see you’re upset. Tell me what’s happening.”
• She also recommends reframing frustrated or shaming comments—such as “How many times do I have to tell you?” and “You know better than that”—into invitations that explore underlying challenges or obstacles.