How many times growing up did you hear your parents say “you either shape up or we are shipping you out!” meaning to military school? There is just something about the structure and rules of military schools that sings to the heart of a parent of an out of control kid.

While this seems like an easy out, there are a few options prior to making this choice that beg to be considered. Starting with, what is going on with your kid basically? Has the dynamics of his life changed, foundation shifted, like a divorce, change of schools, remarriage? What is the time span of this behavior? If it has been short-lived, keep the lines of communication open and listen when he talks. If it is longer, and talking is resulting in shouting and slamming, or, worse hitting, the next step is possibly implementing a parenting program.

Sometimes this is called a child behavior program, but I like parenting program because it feels more proactive. I am working with my child to become a successful, fulfilled adult and I must have the skills needed in order to do this. There are several different programs on the market. One I use is Parenting with Love and Logic which provides  good information and is geared more toward raising up children who are learning to become independent and may get off track occasionally. I personally favor Total Transformation program as I have had the most success with it. And it also addresses issues with kids who are most difficult to deal with in easy to follow step by step information. When the stress level is high, it is nice to just have a handbook to refer to.

At this time, adding in a therapist or counselor would be highly beneficial. Doing this in conjunction with a parenting program is ideal as you have the added support on an ongoing basis. Sometimes, it may help to place the kiddo in a therapeutic environment until you get your new parenting skills up and running. You will have opportunities in the therapy center to practice as most will offer family counseling.

Last resort, in my opinion, is military school. Some kids will thrive on this structure, but as it addresses the behavior and not the thinking behind the behavior, it may only be a bandaid. If you decide to go this route, have a plan in place when your child gets home. Make structure and accountability priorities in your house, so your child doesn’t slide back into his or her old habits.  Also, I was surprised to learn that many schools won’t accept openly defiant, out-of-control teens. And if they get booted out, you lose your tuition money.

So there are the options. It is up to you to decide – is military school the answer for you and your child?

For many more tips on parenting decisions including the military school option, check out The Total Transformation. It’s one of the best child behavior programs I’ve ever seen – it worked for our family, I’m sure it can work for yours!

You might be wondering if I’m making money by promoting this program, and the answer is yes! If you buy it after visiting my website, I will earn a commission.  The truth is, I tried it and liked it so much, that I decided it would be something I would feel proud to support and promote, and as a bonus, I get a commission if you buy it.

Sometimes boys are so out-of-control that parents feel there is no solution other than to send them to a military school for boys, boot camp, or wilderness program. This isn’t usually out of choice, but because they’re at their wit’s ends, they’ve tried everything else, and they don’t see any other alternative. Residential treatment programs like military schools for boys, reform schools, and boot/wilderness camps can provide short term help. They can teach your teenager how to behave in a restrictive, artificial environment, but they rarely bring about permanent behavior changes once they return home and are faced with the challenges of the real world.

The problem is that many teens don’t know how to problem solve, and that’s why they act out and are disobedient and abusive. It’s a coping mechanism. They just use it to get what they want, instead of working through the problem.

If you’ve been considering a military school, please do yourself (and your teen) a favor and take a look at the Total Transformation Program by James Lehman. This program is designed to teach parents how to help their kids learn to problem solve, thereby eliminating the abusive behavior that comes from poor problem-solving skills. Mr. Lehman give you lots of tips and tools to help your child to be successful in life.

One of our favorite techniques is to stop the show. What this means, is don’t enter in with the teenager when he attempts to push your buttons. If he’s abusive, walk away from him until he is able to talk to you in a calm, logical voice. Basically, you’re creating a vacuum where he doesn’t have any “air” to fight in – if there is no one to fight with, he’ll stop.

This is just one of the techniques we’ve learned that has worked for us. Mr. Lehman has hundreds more – and they all make sense and are easy to implement. Maybe a military school for boys is not the right answer. Take a look at The Total Transformation today. You’ve got nothing to lose, because for a limited time, they are offering the program for free. All you have to do is order it and complete and return the enclosed Feedback survey. Do it today before it’s too late!