Parents often think about behavior in terms of rewards and consequences, but many daily expectations—bedtime, mealtime, screen time—aren’t about “good” or “bad” behavior at all. They’re about establishing predictable routines that help children feel secure and successfully navigate their day. Clear, consistent boundaries create structure kids can rely on, supporting emotional regulation, independence, and smoother family dynamics.

Power struggles with children can emerge for a variety of reasons. These willful and increasingly autonomous moments are a normal part of development and typically begin around age two. When parents are confronted with navigating a newly willful toddler, they are forced to make tricky split second decisions as to how to manage a behavior, tantrum or big emotion. Fortunately, there are effective strategies to help end power struggles with your child, many of which can be simple changes in the way the parent views the child’s behavior.