It is fun, but he can t handle it. As we are talking about violence tonight, I would like to discuss how we learn to control our impulses. Violence is a way of relieving our inner feelings of rage, but it is low on the hierarchy of possible responses. Turning the tension and energy into a productive behavior that benefits us in the long run is a higher order response. Baby s express their feelings with uncontrolled motor output.
Adults express their feelings more with words, but are able to use the full spectrum if necessary.
An example would be someone reported to me that at a competition where they were to create a routine to music that they heard for the first time, the music was a child s bed time song. She pouted and complained that it was terrible music to use, and that is why she did not do well. My comment was that it was her job to redirect her anger and utilize the energy to create a program that would make the song elegant rather than babyish. That she had to learn to deal with what was there, and not lose sight of her objective. A parent helps their infant develop control over their primitive instincts through play.