Page 21 - Parenting Pamphlets
P. 21
Time Out! When Brothers and Sisters Fight Kids learn to resolve conflicts by watching
You may find your children fighting and arguing others. Whether it’s the people on a TV Parenting
Plan ahead for ways to manage your stress among themselves one day, and best friends the next. program, their friends, teachers, or you. No. 6
and keep your cool when you start getting Conflict between siblings is very common. So why are Handling conflict is a very important set of
angry. Take a walk, have someone who can they fighting? skills that children need to learn as they
watch your kids for a while, stop and listen Jealousy and competition– grow to become adults. Your child will have
to music or scrub the kitchen floor! You Kids compete for possessions, conflicts with you, their friends, teachers,
need to have a good outlet for your excess time to do things, your attention peers, authorities, and with themselves.
feelings and emotions too! and your praise. Knowing how to keep your cool, when to stand your ground,
If conflicts become violent, you need to Things are not fair– Someone and how to settle differences is a powerful tool. There is always more than
protect yourself and others and get help gets more than the other. one way to solve a problem besides physically fighting, name-calling, and
from a doctor, case worker, counselor, Resentment– Caused by having hurting the other person. Your job is to help you kids learn to get along with
parents, and friends. to take care of younger siblings, having more other people, and solve their conflicts in a positive way.
responsibilities or privileges than another.
Different personalities– Kids can clash when ©2022 Learnovation®, LLC
their moods and temperaments are different. The Basic Rules
Try This at Home... Reality Check...
Here are the basic rules for
So, what do you do as the parent? For Evaluation Only
If everyone is whining and working and playing with Conflict In the Family
complaining, set a certain time where Try to let them settle it on their own– Keep kids others. It really works for
physically safe, but when you act as the referee
everyone gets a chance to complain each time, kids will come to expect it. resolving most adult conflicts
about something. Put a time limit 8 NEVER use physical, verbal or as well, if we just follow the
on it- 1-3 minutes. Everyone listens When you do get involved– Separate them for emotional abuse with your children or rules and pay attention!
cool down time, try to create a win-win situation
to the complaint. This gives kids a where both sides get something, don’t spend your partner.
formal time to complain and vent too much time placing blame, it won’t always be 8 Find ways to calm down when you are Take turns.
their frustrations, and gives you and “fair,” so help your kids learn to deal with this. angry. Play fair.
others a chance to listen, empathize, Prevent fights in advance– If you see problems 8 Be sure to listen to the other person, Use your words.
give advice, and talk about it. coming, like fighting over TV time, make a and try to look at it from their point of Listen to others.
schedule in advance. view.
Say it nicely.
8 Remember, you are the parent, you need
Disclaimer: to set the example for how to behave Apologize.
Learnovation®, LLC’s mission is to empower people to improve when conflicts happen. Share.
their own parenting skills. This information is intended to serve
as a general guide of parenting principles and strategies. It is not 8 Watch your body language. People will Do a favor for
intended to address individual parenting issues, nor should it be listen to it more than your words. someone else.
taken as legal, personal, or other advice.
