I've teamed up with Worthing Mums and Dads as their parenting expert, answering parent's questions.This post was originally seen there.  Question: My 2 1/2 year old does not listen. Other mums have been surprised at her obvious and intentional ignorance – and it’s with many, many different things! Even if I just say her name, sometimes she’ll look me in the eye, smirk and run away. I’ve tried ‘positive parenting’ and explaining things gently, coming down to her level etc… But it doesn’t get through. I’ve tried taking away luxuries, but she thinks it’s a game. She laughs if I do raise my voice and get cross. She has run away, towards the road, the last couple of times I’ve collected her from nursery and on Monday I broke down crying in front of the nursery workers and other parents because she just wouldn’t listen and was pulling away from me – was totally embarrassing!!

As a parent, it’s a must-have to know some helpful ways to de-escalate meltdowns and tantrums.  Often, we don’t realise that we are adding more fuel to the fire, and a situation can quickly get out of hand and last far longer than necessary.  So, if you feel like situations can explode and leave you feeling worn out and defeated try out these methods, they will help you not only respond to meltdowns but put a stop to them altogether.

Do you feel like you’re forever losing your cool? You’re stuck in a negative cycle of shouting and punishments and still your child doesn’t change his behaviour? Maybe you feel like giving up, as whatever you do, you still can’t get through to him. Maybe you’re fed up feeling like they don’t respect you or take you seriously. Truthfully. it leaves you feeling like a terrible parent and you can’t seem to break the cycle. However hard you try.

  As difficult as it can be, apologising to your child is a great way to model how to take responsibility for your actions and learn from them, it also shows that to make mistakes is normal, it is to be human. You want your child to be able to take accountability for their own actions, know it’s O.K to make mistakes and how to repair, find solutions and move on. Read on to find out what to say and what not to say when you apologise to your child.