(HealthDay News) — Children can behave aggressively as they learn how to appropriately express their emotions.
The American Academy of Pediatrics offers these suggestions for parents when children behave aggressively:
- Teach your child the rules of the home, and be consistent in enforcing them.
- Remove temptation (such as keeping forbidden items out of reach) to help reduce instances of tantrums and aggressive behavior.
- Smile at and praise the child for good behavior.
- Explain to your child that calmly using appropriate words is a better way to express anger than biting, hitting or kicking.
- Stress that it’s not important who started aggressive behavior, and that it’s never appropriate to act aggressively or to hurt someone.
- For children as young as one year, use a time-out to help the child calm down.