Kids Fighting Nonstop During School Closures? Here’s How to Restore Peace (and Your Sanity)

The good news? With the right strategies, you can turn down the volume, encourage better behavior, and maybe even enjoy the extra time together. Here’s how to help kids under 10 get along when the claws come out.

1. Create a Rotating Schedule

Kids thrive on structure especially when everything else in life feels upside-down. Your first line of defense against persistent arguing may be a straightforward daily routine.

Rotate activities and venues throughout the day rather than concentrating on one area:

A creative craft area.

A place to concentrate on schoolwork.

A reading nook for quiet time.

If you have multiple children, have them switch stations every 30–60 minutes in a clockwise direction. This prevents arguments over “who gets what” and gives everyone breathing room.

Come together for meals and a relaxing evening activity, think family movie night or a board game.

2. Reward Respectful Behavior

Here’s the parenting truth: any behavior you give attention to will grow. That means even yelling “Stop it!” can fuel the fire. Instead, spotlight the good stuff.

Use labeled praise: Instead of “Good job,” say, “I love how you played that game together so nicely.”

Add a positive touch: Pair praise with a high-five, a pat on the back, or a thumbs-up if your child isn’t touch-oriented.

Praise the positive opposite: Swap “Thanks for not hitting” with “I appreciate you keeping your hands to yourself.”

When you make kindness the behavior that gets your attention, it starts to happen more often.

3. Try a Tangible Reward System

Sometimes, a little extra incentive works wonders. Create a reward chart for each child and let them earn stars or stickers during specific “behavior windows.”

Example:

Keep your hands to yourself during each meal and earn a star.

Miss the mark? Not great, but it is worth trying again at the next meal.

Expert advice for maintaining its efficacy:

Allow children to assist in coming up with incentive ideas; non-monetary possibilities, such as selecting the next movie or dinner, are excellent.

Decide on the cost in stars for each prize.

Permit star exchanges twice a week to maintain incentive.

4. Instruct Students in Solving Problems (So You are Not the Referee Forever)

If "He started it!" has become the theme song in your home, it is time to provide children with the skills they need to resolve conflicts on their own.

This is a kid-friendly method:

Determine the objective: "We both want the ball."

List every possible remedy, even the ludicrous or unjust ones.

Discuss the outcomes  “If I grab the ball, she might grab it back.”

Rank the solutions and choose the one most likely to work.

Test it – then see how it goes.

Over time, this not only reduces tattling but also teaches them real conflict resolution skills.

5. Give Yourself Permission to Step Back

While they work it out, take a breather. Make tea. Read a few pages of your book. Put your feet up.

Remember: you’re not alone in this. Every parent right now is navigating the same storm. The trick is to keep steering calmly, consistently, and with the belief that your kids can learn to get along.