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Child Behavior (Expert Forum)
4 year old Pre-school aggression
Answered by
Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D. - Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Family Therapy, Crisis Intervention
Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates
This forum is for questions and support regarding child behavior issues such: Child Discipline (behavior management), Normal Child Development, Parent-Child Communications, Social Development
4 year old Pre-school aggression
by Critmom, Mar 20, 2001 12:00AM
My son has recently displayed quite a bit of agression in school - hitting, pushing, yelling; but only to his classmates, not the teachers. He's not this way at home, but he does tend to roughouse with his 6 year old sister without any adverse reactions from her.
Yesterday he was put into time out 5-6 times for this behavior. Should I punish him again when we get home to enforce the "Zero Tolerance" aspect of his bad behavior in school?
Recently, his father has changed the visitation schedule to incorporate less time with the kids until the summer due to his work schedule. Their father is very good with them, but could this be what is triggering the recent bad behavior? He has responded fine with past schedule changes/declines in time with his father.
Is there a plan to follow at home before subjecting him to a professional's psychiatric microscope?
Yesterday he was put into time out 5-6 times for this behavior. Should I punish him again when we get home to enforce the "Zero Tolerance" aspect of his bad behavior in school?
Recently, his father has changed the visitation schedule to incorporate less time with the kids until the summer due to his work schedule. Their father is very good with them, but could this be what is triggering the recent bad behavior? He has responded fine with past schedule changes/declines in time with his father.
Is there a plan to follow at home before subjecting him to a professional's psychiatric microscope?
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D., Mar 20, 2001 12:00AM
, Mar 20, 2001 12:00AM
For now, I would endorse simply the school-based time out plan, with the provision that, after the time out period, he should play by himself for a bit prior to joining other children. After a couple of weeks, if the behavior is not better, add a plan whereby you follow up at home. For safe behavior he can earn privileges (e.g., TV time, outdoor play, treat); if he is aggressive he does not earn the reward and you can implement a brief time out as well.
Any change in familiar routines can certainly de-stabilize a child, and the alteration in the contact with his father may be playing a role.
Any change in familiar routines can certainly de-stabilize a child, and the alteration in the contact with his father may be playing a role.
Member Comments (1)
by crlz33, Nov 27, 2008 06:45PM
A related discussion, 4 year old agressive with classmate and teacher was started.
