From whining to biting to mashed-potato flinging, behavioral problems are a quintessential part of growing up. The early childhood stage of development--encompassing the years of infancy to age 8--is particularly rife with challenging behaviors, arising as children test their boundaries and explore the landscape of their world. Understanding why behavioral problems occur and how to effectively deal with them is key for helping children develop better conduct.
Types
In young children, challenging behavior manifests in a number of ways and at varying levels of severity. Some children may act defiantly and refuse to comply with the requests of parents and teachers; in some cases, defiant episodes culminate in physical and emotional outbursts such as temper tantrums. Antisocial or bullying behavior--including violent acts such as biting, kicking, pinching, punching or hair-pulling, and verbal aggression or taunting--may also occur among children. Other forms of challenging behavior include lying, whining, stealing, inattention and property destruction.
Causes
According to the National Mental Health Information Center, challenging behavior sometimes stems from issues related to family and the home life, including neglect, poverty, large family size, abuse, parental discord, drug use, violence and mental illness among family members. Infants who exhibit fussiness may face an above-average risk of developing behavioral problems in early childhood. In other cases, children display challenging behavior as a reaction to particular feelings and emotions, such as hunger, fatigue, illness, anger, sadness, anxiety, confusion, boredom or frustration. Children may also exhibit behavioral issues as a way to avoid a person or situation they fear.
Effects
As behaviorally challenged children grow older, they may be at increased risk for depression, suicide, academic difficulties, poor interpersonal relationships and infractions with the law. Challenging behavior may become more violent or destructive if not addressed when it emerges. In a school setting, children's misconduct can also have repercussions for their peers, who may receive less attention from teachers, experience interruptions in learning time and become victims of bullying.
Solution
Dealing with a child's misconduct involves identifying the source of the behavioral issues and responding positively to the child's needs. Strategies include giving a "time out" or changing the child's setting--including his environment, activity or group of peers--to avoid the stimuli that triggers misbehavior. For children who act out in order to gain control, offering options and choices may lend a feeling of empowerment and minimize the frequency of misconduct. Remaining calm, avoiding surprises and following consistent routines may also alleviate challenging behavior. Children with a violent or turbulent home life may benefit from psychological counseling or a change in their living situation. To encourage better behavior in the future, FamilyDoctor.org suggests using a reward system, providing positive reinforcement when a child demonstrates good behavioral decisions.
Warning
Some methods of handling challenging behavior may ultimately worsen a child's misconduct. According to PBS Parents, yelling or enforcing punishment for misbehavior teaches children that anger is an appropriate solution for problems--which may encourage children to continue acting out. Rather than responding to poor behavior with hostility, parents and teachers should remain supportive and help children communicate their needs in a more constructive manner.
