There are certain risks associated with using early warning signs to identify children who are troubled. First and foremost, the intent should be to get help for a child early. The early warning signs should not to be used as rationale to exclude, isolate, or punish a child. Nor should they be used as a checklist for formally identifying, mislabeling, or stereotyping children. Understand violence and aggression within a context.
Violence is contextual.
Violent and aggressive behavior as an expression of emotion may have many preceding factors - factors that exist within the school, the home, and the larger social environment. In fact, for those children who are at risk for aggression and violence, certain environments or situations can set it off. Some children may act out if stress becomes too great, if they lack positive coping skills, and if they have learned to react with aggression. False cues, including race, economic status, cognitive or academic ability, or physical appearance exist. In fact, such stereotypes can unfairly harm children, especially when the acted upon.