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| Norma Ross |
What can a parent of a younger child do if their child is starting to exhibit aggressive behavior?
First and foremost, you need to recognize what is going on in the childs life at that particular time. The circumstances surrounding the childs life can ultimately affect their behavior for better or worse.
Often, parents will notice that a child becomes more aggressive after a birth of a new baby. The child has unresolved feelings surrounding this new birth that they are unable to express verbally unless prompted to do so. Aggression can be caused by some conflict in school or at home. When a child is being ridiculed or hurt they often lash out physically.
Here are some good questions to ask your self as a parent:
- Is the behavior only at home or in school? Talking to the teacher always helps to see if the issue exists in school.
- Is the child frustrated with friendship(s)?
- Is the child being feeling ignored by his/her parents since the birth of a new baby?
- Is there possibly an internal conflict that the child is struggling with?
- Is the child watching too much Television and viewing too much Violence?
When a parent can sit down with the child and ask the child to discuss the feelings that have been pent up, and the child is able to talk, the parent and child can problem solve and come up with solutions. Some children have difficulty speaking and parents may have to be creative to get them to talk.
Children often have to be taught to use their words to handle how they feel. Hitting, pushing, and making fun of others and other aggressive behaviors need to be addressed when children are young. The parent must be committed to helping their children stop these behaviors and help the child resolve the issues with words. Though a difficult task, it is a worthy road to embark on early in a childs life. It is a lesson they will carry for a lifetime.
