3. Model how to resolve conflict well
• allow your children to see you, as adults, resolving conflict and making up
• when we make mistakes as parents, we must say sorry to our children
• when they make mistakes, we must forgive
• don't allow hurt and buried anger to fester
Question: How could you give your child(ren) a good model for resolving conflict?
aim to teach them “expression,” rather than aggression or “suppression”
help them to express anger appropriately (verbally and pleasantly)
correct rudeness, destructive behavior, swearing, hitting others, etc. – without shutting
them down
allow them to express negative feelings: hurt, sadness, anger, etc.
not allowing expression or discussion can lead to passive aggressive behavior, i.e; using negative behavior to get back at parents, such as being uncommunicative, refusing to co-operate, or being deliberately annoying
we need to recognize if we are contributing to the problem and our child’s anger
don’t punish for being immature in expressing negative feelings
For you, what will be hardest about reacting to anger in this way? Why?