In this example of the broken toy, the first response is to interrupt the destructive behavior. Assuming that the act has taken place, however, the parent can act immediately to minimize the breaking of the toy, by gathering it up and putting it aside to be fixed. The parent can state that breaking the toy is not a good thing to do and find out why, as best they can, why the child broke the toy. If the child was angry from jealousy, for example, the parent can promise to help the child deal with anger and jealousy better. The parent should urge the child to talk about feelings and needs.
Children naturally act out, showing feelings through actions, some of which are primitive.
Action is a more accessible means of communication than verbalizing. Learning to put feelings and requests into words is a very gradual process, and parents need to constantly point out the alternative of speech to impulsive action. After that, the attention is directed to amends. The wrong was close to an accident in wrongness, because the child is still learning alternative behavior. Even in an accident, reparations are appropriate.