Aggressive behaviour among children: Tips that can help!

Approximately 1 in every 10 children suffer from chronic aggressive behaviours. And we see this around when parents complain that “Kids these days are very aggressive and they do not listen to us”. With this aggressive behaviour, they might not just harm themselves but even their families and society.

Should we be worried about their aggressive behaviour?

Our relatives often say “They are small kids, they will learn as they grow”.

Is it really that simple?

Research shows that children with serious aggressive behaviour are more likely to become teenagers with aggression problems, suffer with mental health issues or substance use issues. Even as adults they are more likely to engage in acts of violence.

So, definitely this is not that simple.

How can we as parents manage an aggressive child?

As a parent, first you need to:

1. Stay calm: Let the child know that you care for him/ her and are always available to help. Do not try to solve the problem right now which led your child to this behaviour.
2. Do not make threats: Do not give warnings about consequences that are unreasonably severe and that you yourself might not implement.
3. Do not generalize: Do not say “You always say/ do like that”. This enforces negative behaviour.
4. Keep your tone calm: Control your body language and tone. You should look more supportive than angry at this time.
5. Wait for the right moment: Wait till the right time, when both of you, you and your child are calm to talk about his/ her inappropriate behaviours.

If the behaviour is very regular, getting worse and difficult to control, it may require special help. Consult your family doctors who might further refer to psychologist or social worker if need be.

Join hands with us and help other parents. Share in comments how you manage the aggressive behaviour of your child. 

Source:- 1. https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/guides-and-publications/aggressive-behaviour-in-children-and-youth 

                 2. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01181/full