photo credit: Nesta Vazquez
According to the New York Times spanking has been replaced by shouting in parents today. More parents today are aware of the problems behind spanking children, yet “parental yelling is a near-universal occurrence” still.
Feel like shouting? Here are a few things to do instead:
- Take a time out for yourself. Walk away, find a babysitter and escape for 30 minutes, lock yourself in the bathroom and breath deeply, or just put on some headphones and listen to soothing music for a few minutes. Whatever you need to do to feel more relaxed.
- Write it down. Sit down with a pen and sheet of paper and start writing. Start with exactly what it is that you wnat to shout at your child and let the words flow from there. Getting the words out will help you feel a relief, and the free-flow writing might help you get to the real problem.
- Shout at yourself. Bite your tongue until you can find a mirror, then let loose your shouting at yourself. Many parents do not realize exactly how frightening they can look when angry and shouting.
- Start exercising. Getting your body moving can calm you down and may release enough happy hormones to calm you down. Do some stretches or yoga, take a brisk walk, or even jumping jacks.
When parents shout at their children it can be frightening, especially at young children. For some the words you say when angry and leave lasting scars. While no parent is perfect, making an effort to reduce your shouting is important for parents to try.
If you do have a shouting moment the best thing you can do is talk about it with your child later. Apologize for shouting, explain why you were angry, and give your child a chance to tell you how the shouting made him feel.
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