Little House Calls

The safer children feel, the more they can show their true selves — warts and all — experts say. And that’s good for their development.

We feel guilty about yelling because we don’t use it as an intentional discipline strategy; it probably represents frustration. “In my clinical and personal experience, yelling goes hand in hand with overwhelm,” says Rebecca Schrag Hershberg, clinical psychologist and author of “The Tantrum Survival Guide.” “Something about the situation is overwhelming for parents, whether it’s a time crunch or a long and exhausting day separate from parenting. We don’t yell when we feel calm and regulated.”