Child Abuse Prevention

Alternatives To Child Abuse

Every parent gets stressed out. The baby is crying …Tommy has a cold and he’s whining because he wants to go out and play …Suzy is throwing a temper tantrum …
the phone is ringing … the dog is barking …your teenager is blasting music that can be heard down the street … what is a parent to do?

The next time life’s everyday pressures build up to the point where you feel like lashing out or worse … STOP!

Try any of these simple alternatives. You’ll feel better… and so will your child.

• Take a deep breath… and another, and another, and another. Then remember you are the adult.
  
• Close your eyes and imagine you’re hearing what your child is about to hear.
  
• Press your lips together and count to 10… counting to 20 is even better.
  
• Put your child in a time-out chair (a good rule to remember is : one time-out minute for each year of age.)
  
• Put yourself in a time-out chair. Think about why you are angry …is it your child, or is your child simply a convenient target for your anger?
  
• Phone a friend.
  
• If someone can watch the children, go outside and take a walk.
  
• Take a hot bath or splash cold water on your face.
  
• Hug a pillow. If it gets really bad – punch the pillow.
  
• Turn on some music. Maybe even sing along.
  
• Pick up a pencil and write down as many helpful words as you can think of. Save the list. Even better is keeping a journal. Make sure to date each page you use.
  
• Call for prevention information

  Even when children push all of your buttons … remember … they’re just children!
  You are the adult!