5 Ways to Avoid Arguing With Your Children

Arguing with your children is frustrating and a huge waste of time. Not only do you get frustrated by it, but your kids do to. Use these five simple tips to avoid arguments and promote peace in your house.

1. Choices – Limiting choices is a simple way to avoid arguments. Yes, you should let children choose to give them a sense of control over their lives and train them in making proper choices, but when you give a child too many choices all it does is create confusion and make them think you are no longer in control. Two choices are plenty and will help to cut down on arguments.
2. No promises – Life doesn’t always turn out the way you plan. You know that as an adult, but kids don’t get that concept. In order to avoid breaking promises when things come up, just don’t make promises to your kids. Instead of telling them that you will stop for ice cream on the way home, tell them you might, but only if everything goes smoothly and you have time. That way they know the better behaved they are, the more likely it is they will get to do what they want. A double incentive to try this trick!
3. Start early – It is tempting to do everything for your kids. After all, you can do it faster, better, and with fewer mistakes. But if you do everything for your kids they’ll end up lazy and irresponsible. Instead, start them out young. Even toddlers can help take out the trash, dry dishes, etc. If you get them young they won’t fight you so hard when they are older.
4. Keep it simple – Adults overcomplicate things. They think the bigger, faster, and more expensive toy or trip is always better. But to kids, they love the box just as much as the gift that came in it, if not more. Remember to keep your gifts and your plans simple. Both you and your kids will have more fun if you are not stressed and they are not over stimulated.
5. Plan – Making a plan is one of the hallmarks of a good parent. Kids need to know someone is in control. If it is not you, it will be them. Avoid a struggle for control by having a plan. But make sure you are flexible. Like I said earlier, not everything will go smoothly. Just know what you have to do, what you’d like to do, and what can be shifted to later. You and your kids will enjoy the control planning ahead gives you.

The concepts are not hard, but they do take effort. You can’t just let the cards fall where they may. You must put some thought into avoiding conflicts if you want a happy, peaceful home. Try to implement these five tips and see what improvements you can make in your home.

This is a guest post by Coleen Torres from phone internet. You can find more about her at her http://www.phonetvinternet.com/insider/coleen-torres/.