What Are Some Family Fighting Rules All Kids Should Follow At Home

While fights happen all the time among family members, it is not ok to hold grudges and make the fight personal. When siblings fight with each other, they can end up throwing punches, yelling insults and even going as far as taking petty revenge after they stop verbally fighting. As parents this may be difficult to deal with, but we must remember that children do not know how to communicate their feelings and that’s why they end up physically lashing out. So how do you teach them to communicate their feelings instead of screaming profanities? Here are some family fighting rules all kids should follow.

Following respectful communicationAlways use polite language and avoid name-calling or insults when any fight is taking place. When you start name-calling, you get derailed from the situation and instead of talking things out, you start hurting each other. That is not ok! You must remind your children that at the end of the day they are siblings. Take turns to speakWhen you speak over each other, you are bound to start yelling and that is the start of all conflicts. When you take turns, you allow everyone to express their feelings without interruption. You cannot interrupt during this time even if they are saying the wrong thing. Listen actively to what is being saidWhen someone else is expressing their feelings, you should pay attention and give them the time they need. When you pay attention to what others are saying and try to understand their perspective. It also helps you understand their mindset and helps you come to a solution quicker. Avoid physical violenceKids can often resort to hitting when they do not know how to express their hurt feelings. But you must remind them to never resort to hitting, kicking, or other forms of physical aggression. These only make the situation much worse and instead of make it better, it makes the resolution much more difficult. Seek help from others If a disagreement escalates, ask an adult to intervene or help you find a solution. When there is a third person to be the mediator, they can call the unfair arguments and behaviours with them. Take a break from the situationIf things get too heated, take a break and come back to the conversation later when everyone has calmed down. Taking a time out, helps you stay on track and think about things in a much clearer way. Focus on solutionsInstead of dwelling on the problem, try to brainstorm solutions together. Finding a solution should be the first thing you do after you hear each other out. You must find ways to be a better person and not repeat the same mistakes all over again.