Anger Mismanagement

Children look to their parents to learn what are acceptable responses to different situations. When parents are usually calm and collected, children are less likely to form a habit of lashing out in anger or frustration. When parents go flying off the deep end at the drop of a hat, however, children are far more likely to internalize the idea that shouting or cursing is the proper response to everything from a fender bender to an unexpectedly canceled appointment. If you tend to raise your voice often, do not be surprised when your children decide that the proper reaction to a sibling taking their favorite toy or eating the last of their favorite sugary cereal is to start shouting at their unfortunate sibling. If you kick the car when it has troubles, you are teaching your child that violence is an acceptable response to inconveniences. If you swear a blue streak when things do not go your way, you are teaching your child that cursing is reasonable. Your child’s behavior will reflect your own, so be sure you are modeling what you want them to practice themselves.