By Banafsha
Strategies for Managing Aggression in Children 
What Causes Anger in a Child?
Feeling angry is something everyone goes through, even though nobody really enjoys it. Adults often struggle with expressing anger in a positive way, which is why children also sometimes end up having angry outbursts. Many parents get puzzled about how to handle their child's tantrums and angry actions. Some even question if their child's behavior is okay or normal.
It's common for kids under 4 years old to have around nine tantrums every week. These tantrums might involve crying, kicking, hitting, and other actions that last for about 5 to 10 minutes. Most children grow out of this behavior by the time they start kindergarten. However, if a child's tantrums persist and become inappropriate for their age, it might be a concern. When anger, irritability, and aggression continue in a way that's not normal for their development, seeking professional help could be necessary. According to Denis Sukhodolsky, a clinical psychologist, anger problems are the top reason kids are recommended for mental health support.
Several factors can play a role in a child struggling with anger, irritability, and aggressive behavior that could harm themselves or others. One common trigger is when a child feels frustrated because they can't have what they want or are asked to do something they don't want to do. Anger issues often come along with other mental health conditions in kids like ADHD, autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and Tourette’s syndrome.
Genetics and other biological factors are believed to be part of the picture when it comes to anger and aggression. The environment a child grows up in matters too. Experiencing trauma, having family problems, and certain types of parenting (like strict and inconsistent punishment) can also increase the chances of a child showing anger or aggression that affects their daily life.
How is Aggression in Children Diagnosed?
Parents might take young children for a psychological or psychiatric assessment, or professionals like pediatricians, psychologists, teachers, or school administrators might refer them. Older kids with behavior issues that involve the law could be evaluated and treated by the courts or juvenile justice system. (Sukhodolsky points out that earlier treatment aims to prevent this.)
When understanding how a child's anger or aggression fits into their life, a provider considers the behaviors' context. This involves talking to parents and teachers, checking school, medical, and behavior records, and having conversations with the child and parent. "We look at the entire range of mental health disorders and how they impact the child's life," Sukhodolsky explains.
Sukhodolsky mentions that they use research-based tools, like the answers parents and children give to specific questions, to decide if a child matches the criteria for a behavioral disorder. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), a crucial reference for diagnoses, lists potential diagnoses for a child with anger, irritability, and aggression, such as:
Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), involving being angry/irritable, arguing/defying, and being spiteful for at least six months.
Conduct disorder (CD), having a constant pattern of behaviors that violate others' rights (like bullying) and norms (like skipping school).
Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD), marked by frequent angry outbursts and mostly being in an irritable or depressed mood.
Sometimes, clinicians might use terms not in the DSM but used in research, education, or advocacy. For instance, "severe mood dysregulation" means a mix of irritable mood and angry outbursts/aggressive behavior in kids with mood disorders and ADHD. In cases of Tourette's syndrome, the term "rage attacks" is used to describe anger outbursts that are unusually intense and don't match the child's personality.
How is Aggression in Children Treated?
When it comes to treating childhood anger and aggression, the first step is usually behavioral intervention. While there are various therapies that can be effective, the Child Study Center highlights two main approaches that work together to change the way angry outbursts happen and their aftermath. These methods address a child's behavior issues from different angles.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): This is a three-part strategy that helps children learn better ways to manage their anger. It focuses on:
Emotion Regulation: Teaching the child to recognize what triggers their anger and how to prevent it.
Alternative Expression: Guiding them to find different ways to express and deal with their frustration, allowing them to weigh the outcomes of their choices and reduce conflicts.
Effective Communication: Using role-play to practice new communication techniques that prevent and handle situations that lead to anger. Parents actively participate in CBT, supporting their child's progress in learning anger management skills.
Parent Management Techniques (PMT): This approach helps parents manage outbursts by teaching them alternate methods to handle misbehavior. Instead of focusing on punishment for mistakes, PMT emphasizes positive reinforcement for the child's positive actions. The goal is to promote positive interactions within families. According to Sukhodolsky, this approach encourages families to enjoy spending time together, which motivates the child to reduce angry outbursts.
In some cases, children may also use medication to manage other mental health conditions like ADHD, anxiety, or depression. However, the main treatments with a success rate of around 65% in reducing the frequency and intensity of outbursts are cognitive behavioral therapy and parent management techniques.
If a child doesn't respond well to these methods, other approaches may be considered. Sukhodolsky mentions that some children might need more intensive outpatient services or even inpatient treatment. Ultimately, the aim of treatment is to help the child feel better and lead a more balanced emotional life.
Seven Positive Strategies for Managing Aggression in Children
Parents, teachers, and caregivers often turn to Kidpower for assistance when dealing with young children who struggle to manage their behavior and words effectively. This challenge is reflected in various scenarios:
A parent shares concerns about their three-year-old daughter's unpredictable behavior, where she can go from being sweet to suddenly exploding in destructive actions like ruining a sandcastle and harming a friend.
A once calm son starts imitating aggressive behavior from another boy in his kindergarten class and begins hitting other kids.
A first-grade student has meltdowns when things don't go their way, resorting to actions like pinching, pushing, and uncontrollable sobbing.
A boy at a daycare center throws tantrums when asked to come inside from the playground, displaying intense emotional reactions like flailing, wailing, and shrieking.
Dealing with children's aggressive behavior is challenging, and the goal is to address it in a calm, loving, and safe manner. Kids who lose control might feel emotionally and physically unsafe, and other children witnessing such behavior might also feel uneasy unless an adult intervenes effectively. It's important to stop aggressive behavior while avoiding actions that could harm the child further or worsen the situation.
Here are seven strategies for adults to manage such situations:
1. Recognize that children can struggle to control their behavior at times.
2. Identify and minimize stressors that trigger these outbursts.
3. Teach children how to understand and handle their feelings and actions that lead to unsafe behavior.
4. Develop a plan to prevent and manage outbursts in various settings.
5. Be aware of and manage your own emotional triggers.
6. Take a strong, respectful leadership role when addressing an out-of-control child.
7. Caregivers and teachers should create a plan and seek permission if responsible for others' children.
In conclusion, children need to learn that all their emotions are normal and acceptable, including anger. It's important to guide them in staying in control of their actions and words, even when feeling upset. Teaching kids to recognize their feelings, cope positively, and act safely, regardless of their emotional state, equips them with valuable life skills.
To know more about Empowering Strength: Developing Resilience to Overcome Life's Obstacles read here
To know more about Parent-Child Relationship: Why is it Important and How to Strengthen it read here
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