parenting
in Mumbai (change city)
Select City
  • All
  • Delhi
  • New Delhi
  • Gurgaon
  • Noida
  • Mumbai
  • Pune
  • Banglore
  • Hyderabad
  • Ghaziabad
  • Chandigarh
  • Ahmedabad
  • Kolkata
  • Chennai
  • Coimbatore
  • Jaipur
 
Manners and Discipline Topics..

 
You are here : home > Manners and Discipline > Disciplining Children > Dealing with Fights in Children

Dealing with Fights in Children

Dealing with Fights in Children

Does your child fights at school frequently? First and foremost thing which you should do is to find out the reasons behind the fights. Talk to your child and teach him the ways to control anger and avoid fighting. Read on to know the reasons why children fight in school or home and how to handle the situation.

If your child uses fights or other negative behaviour to cope with things at home, keep in mind that this will not stop here. He must be using the same attitude in school also. So, if you see that your daughter uses verbal abuse or your son uses his fighting skills instead of positive problem solving skills, you should be alarmed and try to solve this issue as soon as possible.

Parents are responsible for the proper growth of the child so that he becomes a successful adult with all the skills of communication, negotiation and compromise. Do not teach your child to deal problems with a hammer when there are so many sophisticated tools available within us.

Why Children Develop into Fighters

You must agree that some children get into fistfights very easily and faster than others. There are many children who find it difficult to solve social problems and often this leads to aggressive behaviour. Most of the children learn to handle small and everyday problems as they mature. But some children fail to develop problem solving skills that are expected from them at their level.

Sometimes parents provoke their children by asking simple questions. For example when any boy hits his younger brother, he is usually asked – why did you hit your brother? This means he is asked to give a reason. Whereas the parent wants to convey – you should not hit your brother. So, instead of asking ‘why’, you should opt for a better and positive alternative.

How to Handle Fighting at School or Home

Here is how you can handle your child’s fights at school or home.

Find the Reason behind the Fights

When you come to know that your child was fighting at school, the first thing you need to do is to find out what exactly happened.

Do not Bombard Child with Questions

Give your child some time to transition when he comes home. Do not immediately attack him with word or questions. Talk to him after he is calmed down.

Talk to the Point

Be direct when you are talking. Blaming or trapping your child is not the right way to deal with any issue. Instead, it is better you talk to him directly and straightforwardly.

Listen to Your Child

Listen to what he wants to say. Even if you feel that he is wrong or lying, listen to him. Let him complete what he wants to say or share with you.

Show Your Interest in What Your Child Speaks

Use active listening methods when you talk to your child. Listen carefully and show your interest in what he is saying. You can use the phrases like – I see, tell me more and so on so forth. This will encourage him to share everything with you and may be he will give you the right picture.

Avoid Cutting the Conversation

When you are talking to your child, there is a thumb rule that you should avoid using the word ‘but’. This is because ‘but’ will cut down the conversation as it indicates there is something negative coming after that.

Teach Child to Be Patient

If this was the first time, help your child figure out where his coping skills broke down. Teach him about alternatives that would have worked better. Instead of punishing him, help him come out of the aggressive behaviour. Encourage your child to practice meditation which will help him to control his anger and be patient.

If your child was disciplined for fighting in school, you need to spend sometime with him and help him figure out alternatives. If he has been suspended, you should take some strict action till his suspension is taken off. Carry the iPod, the cable box, the cell phone and the keyboard with you when you get off to office.



You may also be interested in:

Spare the Rod
(34873 views)
Disciplining your Child
(47347 views)
Shopping with your Child
(12805 views)
Cancel
Save Edit
parenting
Notifications
7 Comments
Sort by Newest

avatar

Anjali
Anjali.9 years ago
Please give me some tips as my 6 years old son is in a habbit to fight with his school mates. I am many times understand him, he understands also but again he hits or fights in school.
 
 
 
.
Reply
Lizza saiman
Lizza saiman.12 years ago
I appreciate all your articles and especially this one as it helps me to deal with the most common problem of kids fighting.
 
 
 
.
Reply
Marvin Ala
Marvin Ala.12 years ago
nice suggestions and tips given. these are of great help to the parents and the kids.
 
 
 
.
Reply
Mahata
Mahata.12 years ago
a nice article dealing with everyday problems with kids. Kids are always into fights for some reason or the other and your article has given useful insights.
 
 
 
.
Reply
Back to Previous Page   |   More on Manners and Discipline Index