Daily Tips for Families

Today's Tip for Families

2025-11-03

To Avoid Power Struggles, Give Your Child Choices

Power struggles with elementary-school children are losing battles.

One way to avoid them is to give your child choices. When children feel they have some say over what they do, they are less likely to get into a power struggle.

Here are some tips:

Be sure all the options you offer your child are things you can live with. "You can do your reading now or after dinner."
Make it clear if some things aren't options. "You may choose when to do your math, but you must do it. And the rule is always that there's no screen time until schoolwork is done."
Accept your child's choice with good grace.
Understand that your child may not like the choices. The goal is to offer some control and teach your elementary schooler to make positive choices—not to make sure your child is happy all the time.

Brought to you by:

West Point Consolidated School District