Violent Kid

Posted On In Anger, Parenting

Violent Kid

If you are dealing with a violent kid, it is possible that the violence learned behavior from being raised in a violent society.  “No wonder. Human beings are violent (no other animal species has organized wars), plus, we are a culture that celebrates violence. Our heroes are boxers, action fighters, soldiers, and police with drawn guns. Playground politics often promote the toughest kid to the ruler of the roost.” (1)

It may be wise to limit your child’s exposure to violent television programs or films.  Studies indicate that violent patterns in children are exacerbated by such exposure.  “Extensive viewing of television violence by children causes greater aggressiveness.  Sometimes, watching a single violent program can increase aggressiveness.  Children who view shows in which violence is very realistic, frequently repeated, or unpunished, are more likely to imitate what they see.” (2)

This is particularly true of children with “emotional, behavioral, learning or impulse control problems,” who might be more susceptible to the effect of televised violence and tend to act out aggressively, anyway.

In addition to limiting your child’s exposure to televised violence, parents dealing with a violent kid should also limit his exposure to actual violence. This means parents should model non-violent behavior.  “This is one area where behavior modeling is highly effective, as shown in many studies. Discipline your child without resorting to corporal punishment. Violence of any kind escalates and tends to create more violence. A child who is hit may well take out her frustration on another child. A person who is exposed or subjected to domestic violence as a child very often becomes an abuser as an adult.” (3)

Finally, parents should sit down with their child and explain that violent behavior is inappropriate, and help teach the child how their actions hurt other people.  “Stress other ways to resolve conflict. Just because human beings struggle against violent tendencies doesn’t mean violence is acceptable in your child or in your household.” (4)

With care and perseverance, parents dealing with a violent kid will help turn his behavior around.

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Endnotes

  1. “The Violent Child in Our Violent Society.” Family Education.com. Undated. Retr. 15 Mar. 2012 <http://life.familyeducation.com/parenting/violence/45337.html#ixzz1pIMzeVjH>
  1. Children and TV Violence.” American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 2010. Retr. 15 Mar. 2012 <http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=children+and+TV+violence&section=Facts+for+Families>
  2. “The Violent Child in our Violent Society.” Retr. 15 Mar. 2012
  3. Ibid.