Grandpa Richards Kids

Guideline # 9 for Positive Parenting
Control The Anger

When our children do something dangerous or against your family’s rules it’s sometimes easy to lose our cool, especially when they’ve done the same behavior repeatedly. Anger is a natural emotion, but it needs to be controlled and expressing anger by yelling and hurtful words is not always the best solution.

Anger is an unhealthy emotion for both parent and child. It raises your blood pressure and causes stress. It makes children feel small and many comments thrown out in anger can do long-term damage. Add to that, teaching our children that anger is an appropriate response to a mistake or error in judgment.

Take a moment to breathe (as long as they are not in immediate danger) and compose yourself. Again, be consistent in the way you react and impose discipline and do it without anger or yelling.

Remember to keep things in perspective. If something else is bothering you, don’t take it out on your children. Is that toy on the floor really such a horrible thing? Yes, it could be dangerous if somebody trips over it, but it’s a mistake that can be corrected without anger.

If you lose your temper and yell or worse yet, say something you don’t mean, it’s okay to admit your mistake. Explain to your children that the way you reacted to the situation was wrong, but that doesn’t eliminate the need for consequences for improper behavior.