Is there anything as maddening as a child who boldly opposes authority?

Far too many children these days openly challenge their parents authority. There are two main reasons that this happens:

1) What you expose your child to eg media, TV and magazines.
2) Their parents tell them they can.

Let's briefly address these two issues, and talk about what you can do about it. First, the media. We cannot hide our children in a bubble, but we can try our best to protect them from things which are harmful effects on them. If for whatever reasons you choose to let your child watch the TV and go movies. Please Note: The Scholars of Islaam don't recommend The TV to be apart of the Good Muslim Home. Then you can:

Educate your children about the difference between real life and life on the screen. Talk to your kids about what they watch on TV and at the movies. Compare what the screen showed with what would really happen.( Note: This type of education is contradictory to what Islaam teaches. I do not recommend  this type of exposure is not Islaamic and will be questioned by the child, you are bringing up your child to be truthful and honest, but at the same time you are showing him the art of how to be dishonest. The Prophet said: Verily lying leads to evil and verily evil leads to the Hell fire". The child looks up to you for guidance and to tell the true, so how can you explain to a child that what he is seeing isn't real. He will not believe, because you have broken your trust to guide him to that which is good.. I have seen and read alot about the damages TV has on a child, the child believes he can fly from watching Superman, beleives he is and alien and speak to those he meet with the alien language and he acts out what he has seen on the TV with his brothers and sisters and Subhana Allah a littlte girl after finishing watch a teen show asked her Mom, so when will I start dating? Yes I hope we can get real life things and educational things for our Kids. But how many of us do this? The TV is of no good to us and it's Shaytaan world wide audience to take us away from the remembrance of Allah.)

Be selective about what your children see and read. This implies that you should be aware and take an active role in deciding what they can or cannot view.

Make your own decisions about what's right and wrong. Don't be misled by advertising and political rhetoric.

Okay, so far you're with me Insha Allah. It's easy to put the blame on the media. But now comes the part that's harder to accept. How are you contributing to this problem? Remember A Muslim Woman is one who is quick and alert to whatever may have an effect on her Child.

Making unenforceable demands.

When you demand something of your child that you cannot enforce, you open yourself up to defiance. As an example, you catch your child watching a program he's not allowed to watch, and you yell, "You'd just better just turn it off !" Well, what are you going to do if he doesn't? Remove the images from his mind and take it back? Or a parent demands that her child "Go to sleep, right NOW!" We know we can make our child sleep, Allah does that, you cannot make a person sleep! (You can make him go to bed, however!)

Too much talking and too little action.

When your repeat your request to a child four or five times you weaken your position. Your child will quickly figure out that he can easily ignore you and suffer no repercussions. When you don't take the effort to quickly follow through on your request your child learns to defy you.

Lack of family rules.

When your household is lacking firm and specific rules, your kids may defy you with "assumed ignorance". In other words, "If  I didn't have to clear up my room or do Salaat  yesterday, maybe I can get away with not doing it today." Lack of rules forces you to make constant decisions and judgments and prevents your kids from learning the Laws of Allah.

Constant nagging.

When your child knows that the most he'll suffer for his defiance is the constant drone of your voice in the background, he may decide that the trade-off works for him. Parents who nag often have kids who are "parent deaf". The only cure is to talk less and act more.