Child behavior is a term used to describe your child’s actions and responses in various environments and social settings. A number of personal or cultural factors may contribute to your child’s behavior in a given situation. In addition, factors in your own social or personal background may influence your interpretation of a given behavior.
The Basics
You may have difficulty distinguishing appropriate or normal child behavior from inappropriate or abnormal behavior, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. This is because there are large variations in development among children of the same age, as well as internal differences in intellectual and social development in any given child. You may also have explicit or unspoken cultural, social or family expectations of acceptable behavior, and variations from these norms may cause you to interpret specific behaviors as appropriate or inappropriate.
Understanding Behaviors
Do what you can to understand the potential reasons for your child’s specific behaviors, the University of Michigan Health System explains. Common factors in your assessment of a given behavior include known aspects of your child’s personality or temperament; your child’s emotional state or needs; the physical or social environment surrounding a given behavior; and your child’s stage of development and ability to learn new behaviors. Your child’s personality—whether talkative and social or quiet and shy—is largely fixed, the American Academy of Family Physicians notes, and acceptance of this fact may help you to understand his behaviors.
Classifying Behaviors
To help you gauge your child’s behavior, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends classifying various behaviors into three categories. First, determine types of behavior that are approved or wanted, such as being courteous or completing chores. Secondly, identify behaviors that you might accept only in certain circumstances, such as not completing chores during times of illness. Thirdly, identify behaviors you will not accept or reinforce under any circumstances, such as high levels of aggression or verbal abuse.
Responding to Behaviors
Once you establish behavioral standards, you can reward or discourage behaviors as they occur, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Depending on your standards, responses might include accepting a given behavior; trying to stop a behavior by punishing or ignoring it; or introducing a replacement behavior and reinforcing it by rewarding or praising your child. Whether rewarding or discouraging a given behavior, you will gain the best results and minimize your child’s confusion by responding in a consistent manner.
Considerations
When trying to alter your child’s behaviors, the University of Michigan Health System recommends focusing on only one or two behaviors at a time. Try to establish a few basic behavioral rules and make sure to thoroughly explain these rules to your child. When critiquing your child’s behavior, the American Academy of Family Physicians explains, make sure to distinguish between labeling bad behaviors and labeling your child himself. Your attitude toward your child can have tremendous effects, and your own stress levels, emotional state and temperament should be taken into account when reviewing your child’s actions.
