You asked

How do I handle conflict with my child?

If you’re overwhelmed, give yourself a time-out.
You might say, ‘I need a minute to calm down.’ When your child sees that you have calmed down, they might calm down too. It’s also a good way to get your child to just stop and think about his feelings.
 
Try not to criticise your child for pouting.
It’s normal for your child to feel discouraged from time to time.  Think about how you feel when someone criticises you.
 
Explain a time-out or disciplinary action without attacking your child.
If you give a time-out, explain why. You might say, ‘You need a time-out to cool down.’ Use a rational tone, otherwise your child might hear only your anger and not think about the consequences of the behaviour.
 
Don’t drag out a fight with too much discussion.
If either you or your child is feeling out of control or in a rage, a lot of talking may not be beneficial. In fact, it may only make things worse.
 
If you’re not sure what to do or how to discipline your child, take a break.
You can always tell your child, ‘I will be back in a minute with my decision.’
 
Try not to take your child’s strong feelings personally.
 It’s normal for parents to feel frustrated or personally attacked if their child criticises or explodes all the time. When your child says, ‘I hate you’, is not actually a personal statement; they really just hate your power.
 
I can’t believe I said that
We’ve all had times when we couldn’t believe the things we have said to our kids. Often it’s best to admit you’re wrong and say sorry so that you can all move on. So instead of beating yourself up, take a deep breath and apologise for what you have said. 

More questions

Trichotillomania is a disorder that causes people to pull their hair out.
Some children can be more anxious than others. 
Handling conflict with your child can be tricky. Read our tips on what to do when your child is acting out. 
When children get angry, they get really angry! It’s only natural for parents, despite their best intentions to get cranky too and often react by yelling back.
The following tips should help when your child is back talking:
 
When you tell your child that it’s time for bed and all you hear back is, “You’re stupid!” Does this mean that you have years ahead of you of being back-chatted?
Nose-picking is socially unacceptable, but apart from this probably wouldn’t be the greatest cause for parents if it weren’t for the germs
Many parents will be all too familiar with siblings getting embroiled in all sorts of scrapes and squabbles. 
Every parent has a similar story; you ask your five year old to turn off the TV and help you set the table for dinner but she just ignores you and keeps on watching TV. 
If you have a problem with your child being aggressive, follow some of these tried and tested tips:

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