The good news is that power struggles are a child's healthy desire for autonomy and identity. Of course the parent wants a confident, independent child, but for some, the wearing of nose rings or shaving one's head is a bit much. To help the parent to cope, here are some effective techniques to cut down on the number of power struggles, and perhaps circumvent them altogether. Stay cool, and remember who's in charge. When the parent gets into a power struggle and overreacts, they lose authority over their children.
Parents convey genuine authority by keeping their cool.
When they overreact, they lose it. Establish a few ironclad rules and stick to them. No TV until homework is finished. Put your dirty dishes in the dishwasher. Don't wrangle over details or negotiate.