Dealing with Personal Conflicts in Front of Youth

Episode #25 in the “Raising Kids Who Can Cope” Series

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We all want to raise kids who are emotionally and socially intelligent and are able to recover from disappointment to grow stronger every day into adulthood

The honeymoon will not last forever. Disagreements and arguments will occur in relationships. This is okay. All relationships have disagreements, even happy ones. Life would get pretty dull if everybody agreed on everything all the time. What is important is how we handle the argument and control our behavior.  Especially when our children are watching and learning from us.

Children learn to navigate the world by watching us. They are very perceptive and can tell if something is wrong even if we tell them it is fine. Hiding disagreements and anger from them all the time can teach them that those feelings are not ok and lead to them not knowing how to resolve conflicts later in life or hold in their anger in.  Showing children that it is ok to have an argument and how to handle it in a healthy way can improve their emotional intelligence.

When having an argument in front of your child keep the discussion about the issue, don’t start belittling the other person. Don’t ever make your children take a side in your arguments and don’t make them be an intermediary or play referee in your arguments either. Also it is important to not think about an argument as something to be one or lost but as a problem to be solved.

Finally, know your limit. We’ve talked about stepping back before blowing up when mad at our children, the same applies for when we’re arguing with our partners.  If you feel yourself getting too hot or angry to think clear, step back from the argument.  It doesn’t mean you’re conceding, it just means you’re taking a break from the discussion and coming back to it when you can think more clearly.

Raising Kids Who Can Cope is a 28-part series developed to build skills, knowledge and awareness in adults who play a role in young people’s lives. It is brought to you by Jackson County UW-Extension and Together for Jackson County Kids. Find out more at Raising Kids Who Can Cope.

References

Ginsburg, K. R. (2011). Building Resiliency in Children and Teens. Grove Village IL: American Academy of Pediatrics.

Strengthening Families Program for Children 11-14 Curriculum. Iowa State University Extension. http://www.extension.iastate.edu/sfp10-14/

Hovering Can Hurt: Helicopter Parenting Hurts Competence and Coping

Episode #23 in the “Raising Kids Who Can Cope” Series

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We all want to raise kids who are emotionally and socially intelligent and are able to recover from disappointment to grow stronger every day into adulthood

As parents and caregivers, we all want what is best for our child. We want to make sure that our child is happy, feels loved and grows up to be a good person.  Some parents want this so badly, that they insist on making all of their child’s decisions, as well as sacrificing everything, to protect their child from the world and everyone in it.  These parents are often referred to as “Helicopter Parents”.

Helicopter parents hover over their children like helicopters, constantly rescuing and protecting them from teachers, other kids, and the rest of the cruel world. They rush to prevent any harm from befalling their children and interfere with letting them learn from their own mistakes, sometimes even against the children’s wishes.

This style of parenting can send a message to the child that says, “You can’t help yourself. I have to do things for you.”  This may do more harm than good, causing the child to grow up fragile and unable to make good decisions or take on a leadership role in their own lives.

Take a step back and allow children to make their own decisions, be held accountable for their actions, and take ownership of their own problems. It will help them become better leaders and build their confidence. If we encourage resilience and reward perseverance, we teach our children that we believe they are strong enough and smart enough to do things on their own, and give them the tools they need to become responsible, capable adults.

Raising Kids Who Can Cope is a 28-part series developed to build skills, knowledge and awareness in adults who play a role in young people’s lives. It is brought to you by Jackson County UW-Extension and Together for Jackson County Kids. Find out more at Raising Kids Who Can Cope.

References

Fay, J. (1995). Helicopters, Drill Sergeants and Consultants: Parenting Styles and the Messages They Send. Love & Logic Press.

Kress, Cathann. “Weaker for the Kindness, See You There.” Iowa State Extension. Available at http://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/seeyouthere/2014/09/04/weaker-for-the-kindness/

Teaching Children to Effectively Handle Bullying

Episode #22 in the “Raising Kids Who Can Cope” Series

Click arrow to listen to the 90-second podcast.

We all want to raise kids who are emotionally and socially intelligent and are able to recover from disappointment to grow stronger every day into adulthood

Bullying happens in life and not only to children. It is important to develop some good strategies early on that help children and adults to handle it effectively and minimize its impact on us as individuals.

First, we need to identify it correctly. Sometimes what we call bullying is simply rude or mean. If a person says something thoughtlessly that offends us, that is rude behavior. If they offend or hurt us intentionally one time, that is mean. Bullying is repeated mean behavior that is intended to exert power over another person.

So, how can we support our children when it is definitely bullying? Before we ever address how to stop the bullying, we need to stop and make sure our children understand that what is taking place does not change the good core of who they are. Build their self-confidence so they know they are loved. Let them know the best way they can withstand the bullies’ words or actions is to believe in their hearts that they do not deserve to be treated poorly.

Remind them that they are powerful people, not victims, and if they are sure they are physically safe, they can choose to speak up for themselves. Discourage responding to bullying by being bullies. Help them identify allies who will stand with them and hopefully stand up for them in the face of bullying. And let them see us, as adults, caring enough to stand up for others when it is needed.

Raising Kids Who Can Cope is a 28-part series developed to build skills, knowledge and awareness in adults who play a role in young people’s lives. It is brought to you by Jackson County UW-Extension and Together for Jackson County Kids. Find out more at Raising Kids Who Can Cope.

References

Wilson, Signe (2012). Rude vs. Mean vs. Bullying: Defining the Differences. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/signe-whitson/bullying_b_2188819.html

Olsen, J. & Pace, K. (2013). Be SAFE: Safe, Affirming & Fair Environments. Michigan State University Extension. East Lansing, MI.