How can I handle daily door-slamming without normalising it? 

Parenting Perspective 

When a child slams a door every day, it can disrupt the peace of the entire home. It may feel like defiance, but more often, it is an emotional outburst; a loud expression of feelings a child does not yet know how to name or regulate. The challenge is to respond in a way that maintains respect without turning every incident into a battle. The goal is not just to stop the noise, but to teach emotional control and restore calm communication. 

Recognise the Emotion Behind the Action 

A slammed door is usually a signal of overwhelm, frustration, or a need for space. While it is disruptive, it is also a form of communication. A child may not yet know how to say, ‘I am angry,’ or ‘I need time alone.’ Recognising this helps you to shift from a mindset of punishment to one of guidance. Before you react, take a breath and remind yourself that this is not about the door, but about the emotion driving the action. 

Address the Behaviour with Calm Authority 

When a door is slammed, respond without shouting from another room. Wait until the immediate intensity has passed, then approach your child calmly. 

‘I can see you were upset, but slamming doors is not how we show our anger. Let us find another way to express those feelings.’ 

This approach separates the emotion, which is valid, from the behaviour, which is not. The tone should be calm and factual, not shaming. The message you want to send is that their feelings matter, but respectful conduct is still required. 

Establish Consistent and Clear Expectations 

Explain the household expectation during a neutral moment. 

‘In our home, we close doors gently. If you are angry, you can take a break in your room, write down your feelings, or come and talk when you are ready.’ 

If the slamming continues, use a consistent consequence, for instance, removing the privilege of closing the door for a short period, and follow through quietly. Children learn limits best when they are steady and predictable, not emotional or exaggerated. 

Guide Your Child Towards Healthier Outlets 

Show your child healthier ways to express strong feelings. You might suggest: 

‘When you feel like slamming the door, try taking three deep breaths or squeezing your pillow instead.’ 

Practising these alternatives together helps your child to build their emotional awareness and ability to self regulate. With time, they will learn to pause before acting on an impulse. 

Spiritual Insight 

Moments of anger in the home test both parent and child. How we respond determines whether our environment becomes one of tension or tranquillity. Islam teaches that controlling one’s anger and offering gentle correction are signs of true strength. 

Controlling Anger in the Noble Quran 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Shuraa (42), Verse 37: 

‘And those people that avoid the major sins and immoralities, and when they become angry, they are readily forgiving.’ 

This verse reminds us that faith calls us to respond to anger with forgiveness and restraint. By staying composed when your child slams a door, you embody this divine principle. The calmness you model plants seeds of emotional maturity and teaches your child that peace is more powerful than noise. 

Correcting with Gentleness in the Teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ 

It is recorded in Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 3689, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Whoever is deprived of gentleness is deprived of all good.’ 

This teaches us that gentleness is not weakness but profound wisdom. When you address your child’s behaviour with calm correction instead of harshness, you preserve their dignity while guiding them toward better conduct. The Prophet ﷺ showed that true discipline is delivered with compassion, never with humiliation. 

Every slammed door is an opportunity to teach composure and accountability. When you resist reacting with anger, your child learns that frustration does not have to lead to disruptive behaviour. Your patience becomes an act of worship, and each time you choose gentleness, you are building a home that reflects the mercy Allah Almighty loves. The day your child learns to pause and express themselves respectfully will be the day your calm example has quietly taken root.