Aggressive Behavior in Children
While this sort of behavior may be alarming, aggressive behavior like hitting, biting, scratching and hair pulling is common among children under five. Aggressive behavior is not something that you should worry about too much, but it should certainly be discouraged and punished as firmly as possible.
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Causes
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Aggressive behavior occurs at times in most children. Adults often feel anger, but have enough self-control to avoid acting on their anger. Children also experience anger as a result of a multitude of different things. Talking to your child, listening to what your child says and looking for reoccurring triggers can help you discover the cause of your child's aggression.
Harmful Parenting Styles
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Some parenting styles can aggravate aggressive behavior. Some parents feel proud when their children act in aggressive ways, and approval is by far the most effective way to encourage bad behavior. Other parents use physical punishment such as spanking in order to stop aggressive behavior. But children often model the behavior of parents and might learn that abuse is the best way to get someone to do something. Modeling can be used positively by never using violence in the household and telling the child that violence is not how problems should be solved.
The Parent's Role
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Children do not have the self-control that older people have, and parents need to consistently teach their children not to use violence. A child should be watched carefully, especially when he appears angry. The best solution to aggression is prevention by talking to the child when he is becoming more aggressive, and separating aggressive children.
Disciplining
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Discipline should be firm and consistent. Aggressive behavior can be dangerous and a bad habit for your child to break, and you have every right to put a stop to the behavior. Discipline can be done through time-outs and taking away privileges. Talk to the child to figure out what is making her aggressive. Sometimes children are aggressive because they believe they are being insulted, so they need to understand that this is not always the case.
Unhealthy Aggression
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Most children have some aggression at times, but self-abusive, serious injuries and getting into persistent trouble are warning signs of ADHD, conduct disorder or another behavioral problem. While problems like ADHD are behaviorally based and can be solved through medication, conduct disorder has to be resolved using behavioral modification techniques and possibly moving the child to a new school or classroom.
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