Dealing with Bad Behavior in Young Children

Intervention for children with bad behavior at an early age is very beneficial for both the child and the family. The early years are when children are exposed to much of what they learn, and it is at this time that they pick up a lot of the key social and emotional skills that will shape their future behavior.

Research has shown that intervention at an early age often increases the chance of correcting whatever bad behavior a child might be exhibiting, and preventing further issues later in life.

The first thing to look out for before taking intervention steps are red flags.

Red flags in children

Children develop at their own pace, and every child is unique. Comparing your child’s behavior at a certain age to that of another child, or even their siblings, will not benefit you in any way. In fact, it might lay undue pressure on you and the child to perform in ways that are not yet natural to them.

At every stage of your child’s life they are growing. Growing comes with its own challenges, and your kids will experience some difficulties as their emotions and senses develop. Red flags can occur in many different aspects, from speech to emotional, social, and even sensory. These often translate into how they relate with others, regression in learning despite support, prolonged issues, problems in the school, home and playground.

Specific examples of red flags to look out for in children include;

• Excessive displays of violence
• Feeding and sleep problems
• Excessive crying which is inconsolable
• Gradual withdrawal from people and social settings
• Difficulties bonding with other people and age mates
• Unease in new and unfamiliar situations
• Sudden separation anxiety

Managing Difficult Behaviors in Children

Your child’s difficult behavior could be caused by a number of things, so the first step is to determine the root cause of their change in behavior. Reading educational parenting portals will help many parents understand how best to deal with certain situations.

Managing children in this state can be very difficult, and parents can easily get overwhelmed. Follow these tips to properly handle difficult behaviors.

• Stay calm, but firm
• Distract the child with another activity or object
• Stay consistent and keep to your words
• Make a space where the child can go to calm down and regain control of their emotions
• Give the child validations
• Ignore sometimes (when the behavior is planned and used frequently to get something)

Staging an Intervention

An intervention is necessary if you find that your child exhibits some disturbing traits or behaviors. Find help from a qualified professional, who will schedule treatment according to your child’s needs. While childhood difficulties often manifest in different ways, one of the most common complaints from parents and caregivers of these children is their excessive anger and tantrums.

Rewards and positive praise will go a long way during behavior therapy. When you notice your child doing something positive, call their attention to it, and praise them. Keep eye on this interesting blog for parents to be informed about these issues.

Quality time is also much needed in behavior management. This will help reassure the child, reduce their stress level, and also improve their confidence in social setting. A benefit for the parents is that quality time will allow you feel more connected to what your child is going through, as well as build a greater patience level.