At its core, using reverse psychology is encouraging kids to do one thing, when secretly you hope they will do the exact opposite. Genius. But why does it work? According to Michael V. Pantalon, Ph.D., “It works because none of us like to be told what to do, so much so, that we often do the opposite of what we’re being pressured to do simply to re-establish our freedom.” We’re not saying that using reverse psychology on children works for every parent in every situation. But when used smartly and sparingly, it can be an effective tool in getting through to your stubborn offspring. Here are 10 reasons why you should never EVER use reverse psychology on children. Just kidding. (See what we did there?)
