Young children need guidance when learning appropriate and acceptable physical boundaries between siblings, especially for those behaviors like pinching, pushing, or even rough-housing. Many parents worry about these negative behaviors and that they could lead to stressful sibling relationships or increased or inappropriate aggressive physical actions toward others. Parents should first seek to learn about the reasons why siblings might be acting out this way, and then redirect those energies in positive activities that will benefit all siblings.
Children are often impulsive by nature and it is not uncommon for them to express themselves with physical actions, either by stomping feet, shoving a sibling who disagrees, or taking away items from siblings. There can be many reasons why children act this way, but the two main themes are the needs of children to express frustration and not being equipped to do so verbally and the innate physical needs of children to expend energy.
When young children act out physically toward siblings and parents suspect it is out of frustration, there are several approaches that can be taken. A pre-school child who pinches a toddler sibling might do so out of frustration for the attention the sibling gets or by the reaction to the pinching. Parents should make sure to not play into this game by placing extreme attention on either child in this case. Even negative attention is attention for children, and sometimes the only regular individual attention that a child receives. Parents should try to react positively to all of the small, appropriate physical behaviors such as a soft touch to a toddler's cheek that a sibling might give or a hug between young sisters. Focusing on the good behaviors reduced the currency of the bad ones. It is also important to make time for each child individually to combat any feelings of insecurity in the family relationships.
Sometimes physical aggression in children comes more from simply too much untapped energy than it does from negative emotions. Children need outlets for positive physical activity, possibly through sports, dance classes, or hiking with the family. Martial arts classes can benefit children because they tend to target physical strength used responsibly. Other children just require more positive physical interactions such as snuggling in the evening while reading stories with parents or games that involve the senses, especially the sense of touch. Children have varying needs and it is important to address the sensory and activity needs of those who need physical contact and exercise.
No matter what the reasons are for the physical aggression of children, parents need to set clear ground rules for expectation and consequences for not following them. Children learn from their parents appropriate interactions such as aggression. A child who sees a parent slam a door out of negative emotions learns that physical frustration can be used to vent frustrations. Young children will need regular reminders of respectful and appropriate physical touches between siblings and take time to reinforce the positive ones. It is also good to discuss the respect of personal space and ways to honor and respect others.
It is not uncommon for siblings to show physical aggression toward each other, whether it is grabbing a toy away out of frustration or playing too rough because of too much physical energy. Parents need to look for the causes behind the actions then find ways to teach children ways in which they can positively express themselves.
Children are often impulsive by nature and it is not uncommon for them to express themselves with physical actions, either by stomping feet, shoving a sibling who disagrees, or taking away items from siblings. There can be many reasons why children act this way, but the two main themes are the needs of children to express frustration and not being equipped to do so verbally and the innate physical needs of children to expend energy.
When young children act out physically toward siblings and parents suspect it is out of frustration, there are several approaches that can be taken. A pre-school child who pinches a toddler sibling might do so out of frustration for the attention the sibling gets or by the reaction to the pinching. Parents should make sure to not play into this game by placing extreme attention on either child in this case. Even negative attention is attention for children, and sometimes the only regular individual attention that a child receives. Parents should try to react positively to all of the small, appropriate physical behaviors such as a soft touch to a toddler's cheek that a sibling might give or a hug between young sisters. Focusing on the good behaviors reduced the currency of the bad ones. It is also important to make time for each child individually to combat any feelings of insecurity in the family relationships.
Sometimes physical aggression in children comes more from simply too much untapped energy than it does from negative emotions. Children need outlets for positive physical activity, possibly through sports, dance classes, or hiking with the family. Martial arts classes can benefit children because they tend to target physical strength used responsibly. Other children just require more positive physical interactions such as snuggling in the evening while reading stories with parents or games that involve the senses, especially the sense of touch. Children have varying needs and it is important to address the sensory and activity needs of those who need physical contact and exercise.
No matter what the reasons are for the physical aggression of children, parents need to set clear ground rules for expectation and consequences for not following them. Children learn from their parents appropriate interactions such as aggression. A child who sees a parent slam a door out of negative emotions learns that physical frustration can be used to vent frustrations. Young children will need regular reminders of respectful and appropriate physical touches between siblings and take time to reinforce the positive ones. It is also good to discuss the respect of personal space and ways to honor and respect others.
It is not uncommon for siblings to show physical aggression toward each other, whether it is grabbing a toy away out of frustration or playing too rough because of too much physical energy. Parents need to look for the causes behind the actions then find ways to teach children ways in which they can positively express themselves.
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Behavioral Disorders Children Looking to actually eliminate rude behaviour with your son? Then take a look at www.TheBlissfulParent.com for more info and download plenty of FREE parenting resources. Teenage Parenting Classes
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