Children as young as preschoolers are capable of exhibiting violent behavior, according to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP). Aggressive and violent behavior can be upsetting to everyone around a child, and should always be taken seriously regardless of how young the child is. Because children who are aggressive often continue to have related problems as they get older, it is important to address behavioral problems early.
Range of Violent Behavior
Children and adolescents can exhibit a wide range of violent behaviors, according to the AACAP. Even children younger than five can display explosive temper tantrums, physical aggression that includes fighting or attempts to hurt others, cruelty toward animals and even intentional destruction of property.
Why Young Children Show Aggression
Most young children who push, hit or grab are doing so to get attention and get their way, according to the California Childcare Health Program (CCHP). Many children between the ages of one and five have not developed the skills necessary to communicate properly to make their feelings and desires known, and are more likely to experience frustration in group settings, or if the child has limited motor control and verbal skills. This frustration comes out in the form of aggression, writes the CCHP, and can be exacerbated by child stresses like hunger, toilet training, illness or tiredness. Still others may display aggressive behavior following a major environmental change such as a new sibling, a divorce or a move.
Behavior Management Strategies
The CCHP discusses strategies to teach children to problem solve and communicate in non-aggressive ways. The CCHP advocates teaching the child words to express feelings or anger and/or frustration and responding with empathetic phrases in return. The establishment of clear limits around acceptable behavior and consequences for the child who breaks the rules is also recommended. Problem-solving with the child, and redirection to help remove the child from a frustrating situation, can also be helpful. As far as modeling, the CCHP recommends role-playing and role modeling to teach children alternative ways to behave and resolve problems.
Involving Professional Experts
The AACAP website points out that many children should have achieved sufficient verbal and social skills necessary to manage situational stresses by the age of three or four. The child who continues to respond to conflict or negative emotions with aggression may need the help of a mental health professional.
Red Flags
The CCHP identifies several warning signs that an aggression problem is serious in a young child.
Those children who are aggressive toward others, themselves or pets should seek medical help immediately. Likewise with the child who rarely listens or follows direction, and who seems unattached and rarely makes eye contact. Another red flag, according to the CCHP, is the child who does not return to you when in new surroundings, and who frequently chooses violence on TV or in video games.
