How to Stop Hitting Your Kids

The only thing worse than seeing your child hurt is causing their pain. Being a parent is the hardest job in the world. No parent wants to hit their kids, but sometimes the stress of work, lack of money and screaming kids can send a parent over the edge. Stress is never an excuse for abuse and there's help for you to stop hitting your kids.

Instructions

    • 1

      Look for the warning signs of what sends you over the edge. If you begin to start talking louder, yelling, thinking negative thoughts or tightening your muscles, take this as a signal that you need to stop before you begin a blow.

    • 2

      Leave the room. If you have an infant that won't stop crying, as long as they're safe, put them in their crib and close the door. Crying themselves to sleep won't hurt them, but holding them until you lose it and start hitting them will.

    • 3

      Find a support group or tell a friend. You may feel like the worst parent in the world and are too ashamed to tell anyone your problem, but keeping this struggle to yourself will only make it harder on you and you could end up seriously hurting or even killing your child. Many parents, even though most don't talk about it, have at times felt like hitting their kids. Whenever you feel like you're going to lose it, call this support and ask them to calm you down or come watch the kids.

    • 4

      Seek medical help if you suffer from serious depression. Postpartum depression is real and it shouldn't be ignored. Many people also suffer from a chemical imbalance and need medication to get their hormones back on track. Getting medication for serious depression is no different from someone taking medication for other medical conditions such as high blood pressure or heart problems.

    • 5

      Think before you act. Remind yourself of the consequences of hitting your kids and how bad you will feel if you explode. Even taking just a few seconds to take a deep breath and tell yourself that this stressful moment will pass can cause you to calm down. Ask the kids to go to their room, go outside or if necessary lock yourself in your room until you're ready to deal with the situation in a calm manner.

    • 6

      Get some counseling. Sometimes underlying anger about a divorce, a partner, a job or abuse from your childhood can cause you to take out your anger on your kids. A professional counselor can help you to figure out what you're angry about and find ways to deal with your anger or heal from previous emotional pain.

    • 7

      Stop taking life so seriously and find time throughout the day to laugh and enjoy your kids. Go to the park or tickle them on the carpet. Remember that they're kids and they make messes, interrupt and don't always listen. But you were once a kid and your parents put up with all these "annoying" things from you and loved you anyway.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • How to Handle Difficult Conversations
      How to Handle Difficult Conversations Weve all had the uncomfortable, unsettling experiences of saying exactly the wrong thing at the wrong time; having to deflect personal questions; or fending off constant interruptions. Some basic principles to av
    • Accentuate the Positive with Your Kids
      Accentuate the Positive with Your KidsWhats the daily ratio of positive, encouraging words that you say to your children, compared to the number of complaints, orders, criticisms, warnings, and discouraging words? According to the children Ive spoken
    • How to Get Your Child to Clean His Room Using Intrinsic Motivation
      You probably like your child’s room to look neat and tidy with toys and clothing put away properly, but chances are he doesn’t feel quite so strongly about it. You could nag or bribe him to clean his room. This type of motivation often cr