East Specialist Inclusive Learning Centre

Holidays aren’t good times for conflict resolution or behaviour management training. 

Young children get overstimulated easily and misbehave, so provide down time. Underscheduling helps avoid conflict - there often isn’t time for everything planned.

Also, try to remember past family conflicts to anticipate and avert them.

•    Avoid argument triggers or topics that brought on fights, bad feelings, or defensiveness: parenting methods, gift giving, who’s caring for elderly parents, accomplishments, and...POLITICS! If you find yourself wanting to say something that might seem critical, walk away. 
•    Limit time with people you’ve had arguments with before.
•    Let others decide things of low importance. 
•    If adult children are bringing friends home, decide sleeping arrangements in advance.

How to calm things down

•    Use humour: don’t tease, but tell a joke or do something silly to ease tension.
•    Pick a place (an area of the house, the park etc) to go if things get uncomfortable. 
•    Change the subject or take a time out by saying something like ‘I’m tired—let’s talk later.’
•    Be able to give in or let go (even if you are right!).

Thanks to Parent Info for this article.