Aggression in young children is a common problem and most parents don't understand how to deal with it.
Aggressive children is not an issue that can not be resolved. Though there are ways to take constructive action upon the situation, but the results are not quickly obvious, as it involves young children who lack maturity and self-control skills.
Parenting an aggressive children can be challenging, it is difficult to teach your child new and appropriate ways to interact with other children and with adults.
Analysing possible reasons behind aggressive children
We can analyze aggressive children by common behavior of children. The main reason is children are impulsive, easily irritable, and immature and face difficulty in accepting criticism. Aggressive children can also be because of any personal injury to him or his loved one. This injury can either be psychological or physical.Aggressive children can result from different psychological issues or it can be a normal stage; part of their growing up. One reason to show aggressive children is that they are seeking for attention. It also can be due to the frustration of daily living especially when there are some obstacles. Due to increase of exposure to mass media, children easily get influenced by the glamorize violence. Also, when their emotional needs like the need for love and security, praise and recognition are not fulfilled.
Ways to prevent aggressive children
The first and foremost thing parents must do is limit children's exposure to violence in television. The other thing to do is to be good role model for your children. Promote ideas of love and respect by yourselves demonstrating them. Parents must remember that there children are constantly observing them - what they are doing and then they there adopt behavior unknowingly. Here the other ways:
- Always enforce their good behavior with praise.
- Find activities that are relaxing to your child.
- Certain children have abundance of energy and they don't have proper channel to release it. This energy can itself take shape of aggression whether intentional or unintentional. One good way to prevent aggressive children is to find a way to drain off their energy and aggressive impulses through physical exercises.
- You as parents of aggressive children need to keep yourself cool. Don't Yell or hit child in order to stop him. All this won't curtail his behavior; instead it might anger him more. You teach the very behavior that you are attempting to eliminate. If you will watch your temper and control it, it may be the first step in making him learn his mistake. Never show -"do as I say" attitude to the child.
- Restrict child's use of T.V. and video games as a way of entertainment or even while babysitting your kid. Involve him in active in reading, art, music, outdoor games etc.
- Don't be afraid to seek help. Sometimes a aggressive children requires more intervention than a parent can provide. If your child seems to be too much aggressive, then seek professional help, counselor or child psychologist. Remember, your child is still very young; you need to work patiently with him.
By Pooja S Sharma
Editor: Social Psychology
