Are you looking for solutions on how to stop kids from fighting? Then you are not alone and in this post, we will share some survival tactics to stop the kids from fighting during the school holidays
One thing parents often dread about the summer holidays and the long break from school is the fact that the kids will eventually start fighting. If your kids start fighting during the summer school holidays it is easy to get frustrated and overwhelmed.
Here are some tricks to help get you to create the harmonious home you crave and how to stop kids from fighting every day.
Tips for keeping kids occupied during the school holidays
I have found that kids squabble a lot! I have two teenagers and a tween yet the 15-year-old still manages to argue with the 9-year-old. He winds her up and it drives me insane! Yet I try not to take it personally because when I look back I know that I argued with my brother all the time too. My brother and I would often resort to physical fights which upset my mum – thankfully my kids have not got physical and I wouldn’t tolerate that but it does happen.
Positive parenting and How to Stop Kids From Fighting
I try to positive parent and not issue out punishments, I praise the good and ignore the squabbles for as long as possible!
Distraction though is a good approach to children arguing but we all want to know how to stop kids from fighting in the first place.
How to Stop Kids From Fighting
Here are the best tried and tested methods on how to stop kids from fighting, much of it is about preparing for the day ahead. Have a plan of action and there is likely to be less arguments between your kids.
Split the kids up when they start fighting.
Sometimes just getting them into a separate space for a while can help to get them to calm down so they can get along again. Sibling fights often stem from being a bit too close for way too long. One trick I use to get the kids split up is to give them each a chore on the opposite side of the house. This not only splits them up but scrubbing something can be a great way to get out some frustration. As a bonus, you get a cleaner house.
Spend some one on one time with your kids.
The extra attention form you can be a great way to help diffuse frustrations. Be sure to make the one on one time as equal as you can to avoid making one child feel like they are being pushed to the side for the other. I really enjoy doing this and will go shopping or training at the gym with the eldest, take Dyl for a coffee and it is often a cinema trip for Erin. It doesn’t matter what the outing is, they all enjoy one to one attention.
Kids actively fighting and you need a quick solution?
Take a snack break. A lot of times when we feel cranky it is due to an unmet need. For kids, this need is more often than not hunger. While your children may not recognise it yet a quick snack can be a great way to calm them down. Or plan a treat dinner like Papa John’s and grab a pizza and change the atmosphere, hopefully everyone will calm down and be able to move on in a better frame of mind.
Sit the fighting children apart from each other and take a moment of quiet as an opportunity to talk to your kids about what the fight was about. With a little chat with mum, a lot of fights can be worked out calmly between children so you can move on and have a better day as a family.
Plan the day if you can.
Let everyone know what is happening and when it is happening as children thrive on routine and I find it is boredom that leads to restless kids. I don’t over-schedule as we like to take things slow, but you can probably work out when in the day the hotspots are and then fill these. Even a dog walk at the right time can diffuse situations.
From time to time your children will argue and fight but try to remember it is not personal they are just unable to cope with their emotions or a situation they are in. They don’t do it to hurt us parents and it is a natural part of growing up.
