Child aggression – how to find a way out of the storm?

When a child turns into a little fury, destroying everything in his path or starting a fight on the playground, it can be difficult for parents. The ground seems to be falling out from under my feet. What to do? Punish them? Ignore it? To persuade?
Child aggression is not a verdict or a sign of depravity. Most often, this is a clumsy attempt to assert oneself, cope with overwhelming emotions, or react to discomfort. Understanding this is already half the way to harmony.
Peek behind the screen of anger
Before rushing to "put out the fire," it's worth trying to understand where it started from. The reasons may lie on the surface, or they may be hidden quite deeply. It is important to observe the child and analyze situations in which aggression is manifested.
Is the child tired or hungry? Or does he lack your attention? Is he jealous of his younger brother or sister? Or is it copying aggressive behavior that you've seen on TV or in your family? The answers to these questions will help you choose the right tactics.
A parent's peace of mind is an island of safety
The most difficult thing in the moment of a childish outburst is to keep your own calm. But this is critically important. If an adult breaks down into a scream or uses force, he only demonstrates to the child that aggression is an effective way to solve problems.
Instead, you need to try to become the "island of safety" for the child. Calmly but firmly stop unacceptable behavior ("We don't fight," "You can't break toys"). To help the child to realize and name his feelings: "I see you're very angry." Make it clear that you are there and ready to help cope with the storm inside.
Learning to speak the language of feelings
Aggression often occurs because a child simply does not know how to express his feelings in any other way. The adult's task is to teach him this "language of feelings." It's okay to say that it's okay to be angry, but it's important to find safe ways to express anger.
What methods can help:
- Articulation of emotions. "Are you upset because Masha took your car?"
- Physical relaxation. Offer to beat a pillow, stamp your feet, roar like a tiger, tear up old newspapers.
- Creative methods. Draw your anger, mold it out of plasticine.
- Learning to compromise. To help negotiate with other children, to look for solutions that will suit everyone.
Gradually, the child will learn to understand himself better and manage his reactions.
Not a battle, but a dialogue.
The fight against child aggression is not a war that must be won at any cost. It's more of a dialogue, an attempt to understand a small person, to help them understand the complex world of emotions. Patience, consistency, and unconditional love are the main allies of parents along the way.
Don't expect instant results. Learning emotional regulation is a long process. But every step towards understanding and acceptance helps a child become more calm, confident, and able to build healthy relationships with others. Join 1xbet and claim your welcome bonus €130 using the 1xbet promo code valid today. 1Xbet Sportsbook section is the main place where users hang out, with over 1000 sporting events to bet each day. There are multiple choices to go for, and the betting markets, for example for soccer matches, can even pass 300 in number, and that is available for both pre-match and live betting, which is impressive and puts it right next to the big names in the industry.