How Can You Reduce Arguments With Your Kids?

I want you to think for a moment… Over the past week how many arguments have you had with your kids? When I asked this question to my clients I usually get a response, “Oh man, I think like 20,  maybe 30." Having arguments with your kids is not an uncommon battle that most parents experience. Here are a few tips that can help reduce arguments and bring more peace and harmony to the home. Let me introduce you to magic phrases. Here are a few that I use regularly:

1. Feel free to go and play with your friends once your homework is done.
2. What would work best for you cleaning your room or vacuuming the floor?
3. Would you rather weed the garden or clean the garage?

As you notice with these magic phrases the first part is most important. The parent is saying feel free to… then you fill in the blank. What would work best for you…. Then fill in the blank. Would you rather… then fill in the blank.

The reason why this is effective is because you are not saying NO!!

Here is another quick tip. 
When your child is arguing with you and you start to notice things are getting heated simply say to your child “I love you too much to argue with you” or “I would be more than happy to talk to you when your voice is quiet like mine.”

Parenting is a difficult task, but don’t let it get you down. Our kids are counting on us!

Brett Hamptom, LCSW

Why Play Is So Important

We like to think that only children play, however, no matter your age, play can be an important part of your life. Why play is so important for developmental reasons for children is this; play helps with healthy brain development, it helps children with their schooling, and it can help them learn to interact with the world around them.

Play is a way that children can communicate many things to those around them that they may not have the words to say. Whether it is because they are less verbal than others around them, for whatever reason, or whether it is due to their age, play helps connect them. My favorite quote from Garry Landreth is “Toys are the children’s words and play is their language.”

For adults, we do things in our everyday life that is considered play, however, we just don’t see it that way. When you read a book, take in a movie, or view art, those can be a type of play for adults because it brings us joy, and what does play do but bring us joy.

Carmen Stites, LPC