{"id":100476,"date":"2023-04-28T10:57:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-28T14:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=100476"},"modified":"2023-05-04T14:15:42","modified_gmt":"2023-05-04T18:15:42","slug":"parenting-challenges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/parenting-challenges\/","title":{"rendered":"The 3 Biggest Parenting Challenges to Handling Outbursts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What are the most common parenting challenges<\/a> when dealing with tantrums? How can you overcome these obstacles to correct behavior?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learning how to stop outbursts without creating a bigger issue can be tough. Ross Greene’s book The Explosive Child<\/em> says that parents may face three common challenges while disciplining their child, and offers solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s look at the obstacles parents have to overcome in order to put their child’s emotions on the right track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Challenge #1: Reluctance<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Greene acknowledges that a common parenting challenge happens early on when you choose to discuss bad behavior, and your child might be reluctant or unwilling to talk. This is normal and usually occurs for two main reasons: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Your child still expects a one-way \u201cdemand\u201d strategy and isn\u2019t used to this new two-way approach. Therefore, they might still be somewhat defensive or not yet have the executive skills to communicate openly.<\/li>
  2. Your child genuinely doesn\u2019t know why they struggle with a practical challenge or why they had an outburst. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Even if your child is reluctant early on, keep at it.<\/strong> Continuing to have these conversations will help them get better at reflecting on and communicating their feelings<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    (Shortform note: While Greene\u2019s advice to manage reluctance mainly centers around reducing negative feelings<\/em> in a discussion, other parenting experts suggest you can also increase positive feelings<\/em> your child has toward self-awareness and expression<\/a>. By praising your child<\/a> for expressing their feelings or having them identify their strengths<\/em>, you can encourage them to be more open even outside of discussions about practical challenges.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Challenge #2: Other Children and Adults<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The second common challenge Greene brings up is managing your child when they\u2019re around other children and adults. Because public outbursts can get chaotic quickly, Greene emphasizes safety and stability should be your first priority<\/strong>\u2014even if it means getting medication to manage their behavior or using the \u201cdelay\u201d strategy to avoid outbursts. In addition, you can make things easier for yourself by explaining your child\u2019s outbursts to others:<\/p>\n\n\n\n