Handling Conflict

Changes, problems, and unpleasant events can be stressful. When people are stressed out, they often feel tense and easily frustrated. This can be true of kids who might act-out more or be less cooperative. It can also be true of parents who might be less patient and quicker to anger. When many people in the family are feeling this way, problems or disagreements that would have been minor in the past can be turn into big emotional arguments. The strategies in this section can help you handle these situations more calmly and successfully as a family.

• The first section provides a plan for communicating and problem solving.
• The second section provides a plan for using firm expectations, rewards, and consequences to help kids choose to cooperate and manage their anger.

Both sections can be helpful to parents and kids of all ages. However, communication and problem solving often better fits the needs of teenagers, while behavior management may more easily meet the demands of raising younger kids. As always, please remember to stay calm, listen, and be kind to each other.