--- title: 'What should I do when my child is rude?' url: 'https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/ask-dr-bettina/what-should-i-do-when-my-child-is-rude' markdown: 'https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/ask-dr-bettina/what-should-i-do-when-my-child-is-rude.md' date: '2026-10-28' description: 'When your child is rude or their behaviour is challenging, try to see it as communication: it tells you something is going on underneath. Clinical psychologist Dr Bettina Hohnen suggests taking a breath and asking yourself, “What’s going on for my child right now?” You can hold a boundary and still validate their feelings, then talk it through later.' taxonomy: category: - Toolkit contributor: - 'Dr Bettina Hohnen' tag: - 'Calming Techniques' - 'Home Life' type: - Video --- # When your child is rude, ask this one question [ Calming Techniques ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Calming%20Techniques) [ Home Life ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Home%20Life) [ ![Nip in the Bud](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/user/themes/nitb/images/logos/round-logo.png) ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/about-us "About Nip in the Bud") ![Dr Bettina Hohnen](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/user/pages/06.about-us/02.authors-and-experts/dr-bettina-hohnen/dr-bettina-hohnen.webp) Speaker [Dr Bettina Hohnen](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/about-us/authors-and-experts/dr-bettina-hohnen)speaker Duration: 0h 1m 0s Published: October 2026 When your child is rude or their behaviour is challenging, try to see it as communication: it tells you something is going on underneath. Clinical psychologist Dr Bettina Hohnen suggests taking a breath and asking yourself, “What’s going on for my child right now?” You can hold a boundary and still validate their feelings, then talk it through later. --- Was this helpful? 0 0 Share: [ Previous Post](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/ask-dr-bettina/daily-tantrums-and-meltdowns-how-to-help-your-child) [Next Post ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/ask-dr-bettina/when-a-child-wont-get-ready-for-school) #### Other Related Posts: ![](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/user/pages/03.toolkit/06.ask-dr-bettina/when-a-child-wont-get-ready-for-school/she-wont-do-what-i-ask.jpg) ### Video: My child won't get ready for school [Video: My child won't get ready for school](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/ask-dr-bettina/when-a-child-wont-get-ready-for-school) Child saying no when you’re trying to get out the door? Clinical psychologist Dr Bettina Hohnen shares a calm, simple approach that very often does the… [ Anxiety ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Anxiety) [ Home Life ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Home%20Life) [ EBSA ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:EBSA) [ School Avoidance ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:School%20Avoidance) [ Calming Techniques ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Calming%20Techniques) ![](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/user/pages/03.toolkit/06.ask-dr-bettina/how-family-routines-help-children-feel-secure/routines-and-safety.jpg) ### Video: How family routines help children feel secure [Video: How family routines help children feel secure](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/ask-dr-bettina/how-family-routines-help-children-feel-secure) Clinical psychologist Dr Bettina Hohnen explains that predictable routines anchor children, giving them the security to face a challenging world. She recommends… [ Calming Techniques ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Calming%20Techniques) [ Home Life ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Home%20Life) ![](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/user/pages/03.toolkit/06.ask-dr-bettina/daily-tantrums-and-meltdowns-how-to-help-your-child/tantrums.jpg) ### Video: Daily Tantrums and Meltdowns: how to help your child [Video: Daily Tantrums and Meltdowns: how to help your child](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/ask-dr-bettina/daily-tantrums-and-meltdowns-how-to-help-your-child) If your child is having tantrums or meltdowns every day, life may be feeling overwhelming for them. Clinical psychologist Dr Bettina Hohnen suggests keeping… [ Anxiety ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Anxiety) [ Challenging Behaviour ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Challenging%20Behaviour) [ Home Life ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Home%20Life) [ Calming Techniques ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Calming%20Techniques) --- ## Navigation - Parent: [Ask Dr Bettina](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/ask-dr-bettina.md) - Previous: [My child won't get ready for school](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/ask-dr-bettina/when-a-child-wont-get-ready-for-school.md) - Next: [Daily Tantrums and Meltdowns: how to help your child](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/ask-dr-bettina/daily-tantrums-and-meltdowns-how-to-help-your-child.md)