Jul
18
2006

Tips for shouting at children

Although this is written with children in mind, given the right attitude it can be used on any age group and any levels of the social hierarchy.

Keep instructions short and simple:

The purpose of shouting is to get stress the importance of the instruction being given. Any instruction that requires adherence also requires transparency. For example, “Go away” does not set a boundary for how far “away” is. A clearer instruction would be “Go to the hall”.

Although short instructions are best, avoid single word instructions, especial single word shouts. For example, “Sit” may be met with laughter from many children between about 6 and 10. If a single word instruction is to be used, it is important to follow it up promptly with some further instruction or threat. For example “Sit, or you shall now be allowed to play out this evening”.

The shout must come from low down:

I deep voice can carry a very long way which is excellent for controlling vast numbers of children over a large area. When I say “deep” I do mean this in moderation. Too deep and the shout will loose its ability to project any great distance. This level comes around the tone sergeant major style “bark”. Equality, a voice that is too high will loose authority almost instantly.

Obviously for many people the depth of the shout will need to be forced, this can have effects on how long you can last before you start to loose your voice to a comical croak. Its important to take into account that at the end of an event more shouting is normally required than at the start. Therefore it is important to “save yourself”.

Maintain eye contact:

When shouting (especially at a single child) you must maintain eye contact. This has several benefits. First it ensures you know they are listening. Even young children have an ability to cut out shouting. Next it forces on them the seriousness of their predicament by making it more “personal” to them. The final effect is it scares the shit out of them. This is always good for impressing on them why they should not do whatever they have done again.

Be swift to reprimand:

If a child has done something worthy of being shouted at such as run across a road without looking then they should be shouted at immediately, irrelevant of onlookers etc. The speed at which they are dealt with relates to how they then misbehave in the future. If you wait a considerable length of time it works in effect as a dog lead. They discover they can get away with a lot before something happens. This is then serves s an incentive for them to push that mark. If they are dealt with immediately then in future they understand that there is no point “pushing the boundaries” because they don’t move, they are the same each time.

Those of you who know me will know why this makes sense coming from me.

– Craig (Holder of 3 CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) forms…)

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