Almost all kids lash out occasionally, hitting their sibling, screaming violently, or throwing objects when they’re red in the face. That’s normal and expected — but that doesn’t mean it’s fun to deal with. When kids act this way, parents may rush in to keep everyone safe and quickly dole out punishments. These punishments may be harsh, like taking away screen time for an extended period, and they might come out harshly if you, understandably, lose your cool. This may make sense on the surface level; you want to discourage bad behavior through punishment. Unfortunately, when parents act this way, they only make kids more aggressive, more often. There’s a better way forward — and it starts with taking a deep breath.