Kids who fight become criminals. Right?

Educational myth 5:

Kids who fight become criminals. Right?
Kids who fight become criminals. Right?

That's what the expert says:

«Physical confrontations are part of a man's biography. It's important that a boy can distinguish between a fun fight and a brawl. How does that work? By giving the child a kind of inner voice as a guardrail. And he only gets this if he has parents who set boundaries. Who teach them what is fair and what is unfair, who tell them that they have to stop immediately when the other person says «stop» or «no» - and that the other person's head is off limits. I think it's wrong to ban scuffles as a matter of principle. But children need to learn how to deal with it.»

Allan Guggenbühl ist Psychologe, Psychotherapeut und Experte für Jugendgewalt sowie Leiter des Instituts für Konfliktmanagement. Er ist Vater von vier Kindern und lebt in Zürich.
Allan Guggenbühl is a psychologist, psychotherapist and expert on youth violence as well as head of the Institute for Conflict Management. He is the father of four children and lives in Zurich.

All parenting myths at a glance:

Parenting knowledge instead of parenting myths!
You can find all the myths in our dossier: 15 parenting myths

Read the answers to 15 parenting myths here:

  • Gute Noten sollte man mit Geld belohnen
  • Handy-Entzug als Strafe ist sinnvoll
  • Ein Kind mit viel Freiheiten wird verantwortungsvoller
  • Einzelkinder sind verwöhnt und können nicht teilen
  • Wer mit seinen Kindern streitet macht sie streitsüchtig
  • Kindern sollte man nichts verbieten, da sie sonst zu kleinen Rebellen werden
  • Mit viel Spielzeug fühlt sich ein Kind geliebt
  • Scheidungskinder sind beziehungsunfähig
  • Trotzende Kinder brauchen härtere Erziehung
  • 13-Jährige kann man nicht mehr erziehen
  • Als Eltern sollte man auch beste Freunde seiner Kinder sein
  • Ab der 1. Klasse sollte ein Kind ein Smartphone erhalten
  • Früh geförderte Kinder werden erfolgreicher
  • Eine Ohrfeige hat noch keinem Kind geschadet

Diese Kampagne ist in Zusammenarbeit mit Jung von Matt entstanden.

"150 questions - 150 answers on parenting, family and school". In the 132-page guide, 51 experts have their say. New subscribers receive the booklet free of charge. A single issue costs CHF 14.90 plus postage; you can order it here.
"150 questions - 150 answers on education, family and school".
The 132-page guidebook features 51 experts. New subscribers receive the booklet free of charge. A single issue costs CHF 14.90 plus postage; you can order it here.

More educational knowledge on the subject of scuffling children:

  • 10 questions about development and psychology
    How important are siblings? What can I do if a child often hits or snaps? Experts answer these and other questions in our dossier on development and psychology.
  • Why boys fight
    Fights seem to be part of everyday life for many boys. Our columnist was afraid of fights. And became a man anyway.
  • Bullying: all against one
    When children put others down, often nothing happens until an emergency arises. However, research makes it clear that if you want to combat bullying effectively, you have to intervene before it starts. Social interaction only works where those involved are constantly working on it. What does this mean for schools, teachers and parents?
  • Siblings: hatchet and peace pipe
    Children can rarely live with their siblings, but even more rarely without them. They compete for the love of their parents throughout their lives. They are each other's tether, but also an annoying shackle. Nevertheless, it is the longest relationship in life.