Defiance getting me down

[TheMidiMitch]

My DC (6) can be really defiant when asked to do something e.g. go in the bath, put your pjs on, switch the TV off. He just says 'No'. I always have the battle and don't let him get away with it but it grinds me down. I work 6 days a week, super long hours and feel like I don't see him enough and when I do I'm fighting him. At school, he is really well behaved it's just at home. Is this defiance normal?

Hi sorry no real advice but have you tried bribery? My dd is only 4 but if I tell her to do something and she says no I try and say something like "if you have a bath then we can have 10 minutes playing something" or something like that. It's tough sometimes isn't it?

You could try asking why not? For example, no I won't get dressed. Why not? Because I don't want to. Well you need to get dressed so we can go to the park, if you really don't want to get dressed then we don't need to go to the park.
Can work for a number of situations. No I won't bath. Well that's a shame as there are fun toys in the bath and I thought we could play a game.

Might work, gives him a clear consequence for his (in)action. And if he gives you a clear sensible reason why he says no then he know your are listening . For example, no I won't put my shoes on because they hurt my feet (the you realise he's had a growth spurt and they don't fit).

I'm sure there are many other tactics others will suggest but whatever you do follow through with any threats of discipline. Or he'll know he can get away with anything.