Parents don’t want to spend their days shouting at their kids but sometimes it is inevitable if your child is acting up or behaving badly.

• The importance of honesty - Every child should know from a young age that honesty is key to your relationship. Most conflicts/arguments stem from dishonesty and while it is normal that young kids will tell fibs, bigger lies are something else. Reward honesty and even if being honest means your child may get into trouble, try not to lose it as they have done the right thing and told you truthfully their side of the story.
• Have rules - Avoiding conflict is easier if you have rules and routine in your child’s life from a young age. For example, you can’t get mad at your child if they throw food on the floor in a restaurant if they are doing it at home. This is where consistency comes in and understanding that children need rules and guidelines to behave well at home and when they are out and about. Arguments arise when your child is not aware of the rules and you can alleviate this by having the structure in place for not only your sake but your child’s.
• Be calm with your child - Your child will NEVER tell you anything if it means them getting into bother if they think you will shout and roar at them. Instead, be calm and offer solutions to their issue. If they have messed up show them how to do better without making them feel inferior to you. The norm is that kids make mistakes but as they grow older you can avoid trouble by starting them off on the right path.
• Accept there will be problems - No parent can avoid conflict with their child and any that say they do are lying! There will always be issues when raising kids and arguments are normal but look at the root of the problem. Is it happening consistently? Is your child learning from the experience and are you handling it in the proper way? Learn from each problem and ensure your child does too.
• Don’t dominate your child - Remember your kiddie is their own person and while you must guide your child stop short of dominating them. You want them to behave well and avoid conflict with you because they know right from wrong not because they fear you or your reaction. Fear is not a good way to parent.
• Work on it - Keeping the channels open and when arguments do arise, discuss them properly before offering ways to move forward. Sit down together to sort it out and avoid shouting at one another from bedrooms. Listening is a huge part of parenting and it will help you communicate better if your child knows you are there to support them and listen to them when they need it.