Why Kids Stop Listening to Their Parents

We would love to hear from you, follow this link to send us a message directly. Include a voice message and you might even be featured in a future episode! Have your kids ever ignored you? Disobeyed you? These can be challenging moments for dads. We all want our kids to listen to us. What happens if they stop? In this episode of the All Pro Dad Podcast, host Ted Lowe is joined by BJ Foster and Bobby Lewis to dive into how dads can become the kind of people their kids trust and listen to consistently.  **Why This Matters** Kids are far more likely to embrace a father's wisdom when they trust his character. **Key Takeaways** **1. Credibility is built through consistency.** Kids notice when our actions don't match our words. Living out what we teach earns trust, while hypocrisy quickly destroys it. **2. Influence grows when we listen more than we lecture.** Children are much more receptive when they feel heard. Asking thoughtful questions and genuinely listening often teaches more than lengthy speeches. **3. Trust is strengthened by honesty, humility, and conviction.** Being truthful, admitting when we're wrong, holding healthy boundaries, and respectfully engaging differing viewpoints make dads the kind of leaders kids naturally want to follow. **Practical Tips for Dads** **1. Listen before you teach.** Ask questions, seek to understand your child's perspective, and resist the urge to immediately lecture or solve every problem. **2. Live what you believe.** Be consistent, tell the truth—even in small matters—and admit mistakes quickly. Authenticity builds long-term influence. **3. Hold firm convictions with humility.** Maintain clear boundaries, stay open to learning, and disagree respectfully without dismissing your child's thoughts or concerns. **Important Episode Timestamps** **\[00:00] How Do You Become Someone Your Kids Actually Want to Learn From?** **\[00:34] What Teens Think About Journalists and What That Means for Dads** **\[02:35] Thing to Avoid #1: Being Inconsistent** **\[04:37] Thing to Avoid #2: Being Dogmatic** **\[08:22] Thing to Avoid #3: Lecturing More Than You Listen** **\[09:35] Thing to Avoid #4: Not Holding Boundaries** **\[11:00] Thing to Avoid #5: Being Dismissive** **\[13:36] Thing to Avoid #6: Lying to Your Kids** **\[14:44] What to Do Instead: Listen, Learn, and Disagree With Respect** **\[18:07] This Week's Pro Move** Ask your kids their opinion on something important this week. Listen without correcting or lecturing and see what you learn from them. **Sponsor:** **The *All Pro Dad Podcast* is proudly brought to you by Family First, a nonprofit dedicated to equipping parents with resources to strengthen their families. Learn more at** FamilyFirst.net**.** **All Pro Dad Resources:** Episode 61 – What Problems Do Kids Face Today That We Didn't? Episode 95 – What Challenges Is Generation Alpha Facing? Dustin Colquitt: 5 Lessons Our Kids Should Learn From Us  7 Things Your Daughter Needs to Learn From You 5 Reasons Your Kids Should Learn From Your Mistakes **Connect with Us:** Ted Lowe on LinkedIn Bobby Lewis on LinkedIn BJ Foster on LinkedIn Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Get All Pro Dad merch! **EXTRAS:** Follow us: Instagram | Facebook | X (Twitter) Join 200,000+ other dads by subscribing to the All Pro Dad Play of the Day. Get daily fatherhood ideas, insight, and inspiration straight to your inbox. This episode's blog can also be viewed here on AllProDad.com. Like the All Pro Dad gear and mugs? Get your own in the All Pro Dad store. Get great content for moms at iMOM.com