How To Control Aggression In Children

Aggressiveness is the behavior of a person to a particular unprovoked incident or situation. This causes bad effects on the person who faces it. Generally anger and aggression go hand-in-hand. Sometimes aggression is mistaken for anger. “How to control aggression in children” is a very stupendous topic which needs pages and pages to explain.

So before going into what is aggression and how to control it in children, let us see the difference between anger and aggression. The basic difference is anger is a natural human emotion which is aroused by a wrong doing. And aggressiveness is a superlative action to anger which results in attacking or assaulting the other person for unprovoked situation.

Let us see the aggressive attitudes of children at different ages and how to control aggression:

· During his preschool he slams the door, takes a bat or utensil and bangs at the door or beats the person in front of him or else beats a mirror; bites the other person or child; snatches toys from other child’s hand. Generally these are very common among every child. It comes due to a feeling of “I or mine” or just to make some mischief. This can be reduced by telling the child to share his things with others or giving the child some other toy which is harmless for the kid and the other person. Beating the mirror with a bat comes due to anger on either his mother or father or anyone whom he is attached to most. This should be understood by the parent. It might be because his parent was not concentrating him when he wanted to. This can be reduced by explaining the kid that you were busy with an important work and that work needed to be attended seriously. Kids till age 5 can be dealt easily because they lack social etiquettes. One of the methods on how to control aggression in children is dealing them with your cool attitude and proper words. Using harsh words makes them more aggressive.

· Sometimes aggression is effective and is must. If you see your infant trying to walk and is aggressive when he falls down continuously when trying walk; then you can take this easily. If he does not have the urge and aggression to walk then he can never learn it. How to control aggression of this type in children is helping them physically when they try to do something.

· When your preschool kid is aggressive and he gets out of control, then you go into action and avoid him being aggressive. The preschool kid has no intentions in acting that way. But it might have happened that he must have been hurt by someone or something or some act by the other kid. How to control aggression in preschool kid is by taking him into your hands and stopping him in being aggressive.

· School going children understand everything. Any aggression from their side can be dealt by taking the child to a different room or taking him for a walk. By doing this the child gets some time to think what actually he is doing. It might happen that he might feel sorry for that aggressiveness when he comes back to you.

· When you see older children aggressive, then you need to be careful. Below given are tips on how to control aggression in older children:

o Monitor them when they watch T.V. programs. Just check if they are watching any aggressive programs. If they are watching them, then first explain them the bad side of that program and bad effects of aggression. If they do not listen, then the only option left is to lock that particular program or channel.

o Consider his ideas. (Most of the times older children are aggressive because they think that their ideas or thoughts are not respected.)

o Try to be his friend and answer any type of questions he asks you in a positive manner. Do not be partial in your discussions with him. Answer him judiciously without supporting any one side.

· Another method to control aggression in children is by explaining him/her reasons as to why he/she should not behave in an aggressive way. Tell him that by being aggressive he lacks the intelligence to deal a certain issue. If some issue is to be solved then it should be done in a neat and positive manner.

· Do not give children aggressive toys like guns. Most of the parents present their kids with guns as toys. But this is one way to invoke aggressiveness in them. Keep away these toys and in place of it give them toys which are safe and which improve intelligence in them. This is one way to control aggression in children.

· Most of the kids learn to be aggressive by seeing their parents. When you tell them not to behave that way, they say “when dad is aggressive and you are bearing it then why should not I”. Be a role model to your kid by not showing your aggressiveness in front of him. Do not discuss any issues which are controversial like defaming any religion or caste or any issue cropping up outside unless they ask for it. You have to observe your kid’s reaction to the quarrels outside the house. This is another way to control aggression in children.

· Give him a feeling of oneness with the family; by doing some things together like watching T.V., studying, doing some gardening work, cleaning. By doing this the child is preoccupied along with you without any diversions. This is another tip on how to control aggression in children.

Gist:

Children are the next generation heirs. They inherit their elder’s mannerisms and character. But aggression in children is due to many factors like the environment in which the child is growing, the outside environment, his friends, his religion and culture and community. Children are very innocent. The onus, to give good behavior and character to children vests with parents and elders in the house.

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