Children need specific suggestions and demonstrations from adults in order to learn that there are effective ways to handle disagreements that are more acceptable than physical attack and retaliation. If your child has language skills, help him explain what he is angry about. Keep in mind that parents are the most important models for behavior and the creators of the family atmosphere and guidance that children need in order to use aggression in a healthy way. If social exchanges in your family include much arguing or physical fighting in the presence or hearing of your children, you can count on their picking it up. Think about the very real disadvantages of physical punishment for your child.
Children often arouse anger in adults when they provoke, tease, behave stubbornly, or attack others.
If your practice is to hit or physically punish your child in some other way for such behavior, you need to think very carefully about what he learns from that. Your child's learning to love and live in reasonable harmony with others comes about only gradually and over many years. This forward thrust of your child's growth and development actually works in favor of his acquiring the ability to channel and productively use those aggressive energies that are a vital part of our makeup. All Rights Reserved.