Table of contents:
- Why do children abuse their parents?
- How to solve the problem of child abuse against parents
- 1. Establish clear boundaries
- 2. Violence and harassment are not acceptable
- 3. Do not reciprocate child treatment
- 4. Stay away for a moment
- 5. Stay united with your partner
Violence in the family is sometimes not only perpetrated by parents to children. The opposite can also happen. This often-encountered phenomenon comes in many forms, such as children hitting their parents or verbally abusing them.
Why do children abuse their parents?
According to a 2016 study on violence perpetrated by children against their own parents, this is related to a history of violence in the family.
The research was conducted by involving 90 adolescents. As many as 60 of them have been imprisoned for being involved in violent cases.
In this group of detainees, there were 30 participants who reported abusing their parents, both beating and emotional. Meanwhile, 30 other teenagers are prisoners for stealing, vandalism, and other things that are not related to violence against parents.
The study also stated that groups of children who abused their parents had a history of violence in their families and were more often socially isolated.
By doing so, it can be concluded that one of the reasons children beat and abuse their parents is because they also experience it in the family environment. Parents who abuse their own children can eventually backfire and turn against them.
How to solve the problem of child abuse against parents
You don't want your child to do violence, like hitting, to anyone, especially to you as a parent. That is why, how to educate you also plays an important role in shaping their character.
Try to be assertive with the child. However, assertiveness doesn't need to be accompanied by violence if you don't want your child to copy and do it to you.
1. Establish clear boundaries
To prevent your child from hitting or otherwise abusing their parents, you must be assertive. Set some rules and boundaries between you as a parent and your child.
After you have set some rules and boundaries, try not to falter and stick to no negotiations. If you give up, your children will use the same methods to get their way through.
2. Violence and harassment are not acceptable
If your child has been abusive, such as hitting or talking harshly to you, make it clear over and over that the treatment is intolerable.
Remind what the harm is if the child continues to do this, such as the impact on social life. Remind also that mutual respect between parents and children is important.
3. Do not reciprocate child treatment
When your child verbally abuses or hits you as a parent, you may get emotional and want to get even. However, don't do this.
Repaying them for the same treatment is to justify this behavior. Remember, you are their parent and keep it firm and calm.
4. Stay away for a moment
There are times when high emotions make you and your child reluctant to see each other. Therefore, try to step away for a while and give space so that your child and you are calmer in dealing with problems.
5. Stay united with your partner
In order for this problem to be resolved, you certainly cannot face it alone. It takes support from your partner.
Don't get into arguments about parenting decisions and try not to show conflict between the two of you in front of your child.
Children who commit violence, such as hitting their parents, can develop into a much more dangerous crime. If you feel like you can't handle it on your own, getting help from a professional, such as a psychologist or going to counseling may help.
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