Tips for Handling Anger

There is no doubt you will get angry. There may be times you say something you regret saying to your child. If your child said something similar to you, you would expect an apology. The same expectation also applies to parents.

Many parents worry that apologizing will undermine their authority with their children. Perhaps their parents never apologized or admitted they were wrong to them. An apology serves several purposes.

• Restores good feelings between you and your child.
  
  
• Reduces resentment a child may feel because of your outburst.
  
  
• Gives a chance to talk things over, understand what caused the behavior, and discuss what to do instead.
  
  
• Teaches children how to behave when they make a mistake.

Because anger is inevitable, parents should also help their children learn how to deal with this often confusing and frightening feeling.