The ‘Keeping your cool: Advice for parents on managing stress and anger’ booklet from the NSPCC is designed to help parents manage stress and anger in order to prevent harming their children. It covers causes of stress such as money worries, unemployment, relationship difficulties, and home/work balance struggles. It discusses the impact of stress on parenting, including increased anger, neglect of children’s needs, and potential harm. Signs of anger are outlined, like body tension and fast heartbeat, as well as common triggers.
The booklet stresses the importance of controlling reactions and finding healthy outlets like humour, distraction, leaving the room, and talking to someone. Alternatives to shouting or smacking are suggested, including respect, negotiated compromises, and changing the environment.
Tips for self-care are provided, like organisation, relaxation, me-time, and congratulating oneself. The booklet encourages parents to understand their own childhood and how it influences their parenting style. It normalizes asking for help and lists many support organisations. Real parent testimonials are included along with an expert’s advice on handling issues like tantrums.
The overall goal is increasing self-awareness, promoting positive discipline, and empowering parents to care for themselves so they can meet their child’s needs in a healthy way. It aims to prevent parents from taking out stress and anger on children through harmful words or actions.
FREE DOWNLOAD OF KEEPING YOUR COOL: ADVICE FOR PARENTS ON MANAGING STRESS AND ANGER BOOKLET
