Children who physically assault, what to do?

Aggression can manifest itself in many different ways , through behavior, words, and also through physical aggression. One of their worst parental nightmares occurs when a child becomes aggressive towards parents. Even experienced parents can be frustrated when a child begins to throw toys, hit them, or kick them when they don’t know how to control themselves emotionally.

While the natural reaction to an attack might be to fight back, it has no place in parenting. With a little help and a little practice , you can provide a responsible role model and proper guidance to your child to help him manage his emotions without the need for him to physically assault anyone. Here are some tips to get it done.

SEEK SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE

Seek professional support and assistance if necessary.  If you are dealing with an aggressive child, your child is also likely dealing with emotions that are too intense for them to be able to control on their own.

Find a child psychologist or person you trust to help you learn the skills you need to raise your aggressive child and help him get over what he’s feeling . Sometimes children experience trauma or something else that needs attention. Don’t try it alone for too long. Difficult parenting can be easier with support, and your child may also appreciate talking to someone helpful.

LEARN TO CALM DOWN WHEN YOU FEEL ANGRY

You need to learn to calm down when you feel angry . Parenthood can bring out the worst in a person when the going gets tough. Have some free time for yourself when you feel upset. Practice meditation , mindful relaxation, or another relaxing activity when you’re not upset, so you know how to calm yourself when things get tense.

When your child is behaving aggressively , watch his reaction and choose to take slow, deep breaths so that he can focus on your relationship even when you feel angry. Anger must be learned to listen to it instead of acting harshly, impulsively and almost without thinking about anything.

SHARE ALTERNATIVES TO VIOLENCE

Talk to your child and share alternatives to violence when he is calm so he will know how to act when he becomes a little more tense.  Children need other ways to overcome what they feel if they are being aggressive. Help your child discover and practice constructive ways of expressing anger, such as stomping, running, jumping, talking about what he feels and wants to happen, or drawing a picture and breaking it.

Make a list of activities to deal with angry feelings and put it on the fridge with a magnet or somewhere where it can be easily seen . So when you feel angry you will have those references to know how to act even if your mind feels a bit cloudy.

You can also help your child recognize warning signs like low-level irritation, a racing heartbeat , clenched jaws, or a feeling of warmth so that he can get some space instead of acting aggressively toward you.

CREATE SAFE BOUNDARIES

It is imperative that you create safe boundaries and that you stay connected with your child . The emotions that drive aggressive actions in children, fear stops thinking and children act. Children in this emotional state need to connect with a loving parent, and sometimes a comforting hug can help. State the limit in simple terms, such as “Hitting hurts, I want you to touch me gently.” Acknowledge the child and offer another way to connect on an emotional level, such as “How about up to five good deeds and let’s play together?”

EVALUATE THE PLAN

Review the action plan with your child and modify it as necessary to help your child learn to deal with feelings responsibly. Limits are important and children are unique. If you find it difficult to connect emotionally and help your child learn alternatives to being aggressive, keep seeking help and be kind to yourself.  Some parental challenges require repeated attempts to solve to see any progress. In the same way, it is necessary to look for triggers to prevent them whenever possible.