A psychiatrist’s book tells parents how they can help children have healthy gaming habits

Your goal in exploring resistance is to learn something, not to prove something. Kids can tell the difference; they won’t buy into a conversation if you are using a question to make an argument. (The experts call that the “Socratic method,” and it’s best left in the realm of college professors, not to the parents of kids and teenagers.)

In general, people (who aren’t being sarcastic or know-it-alls) ask questions because they don’t already know the answer, right? In that sense, the question asker is ignorant – and that is the frame of mind you should have when you ask a question of your child. You are not the expert – you are ignorant. Being ignorant of something doesn’t necessarily mean you are powerless, and your kid knows that. They know you still hold the power – and that it’s in their best interest to enlighten you on what you claim not to know; holding out on you won’t get them anywhere.

DON’T ask a question unless you are really prepared to listen to the answer and try to understand it.

DO honestly try to hear what your child is saying and understand them better.

TRY THIS: If, in a campaign to get you to allow them...

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