Unprovoked Agressive Behavior

My son started kindergarten last week and has been aggressive toward his classmates in the form of biting, pushing and kicking. These other children did nothing to provoke him and in one case he and the other child were not even interacting. He walked 10 feet across the room to kick her after telling the teaching assistant he was going to do it. Today he pushed someone while at recess and while sitting in time out he bit his own forearm and tried to hit himself. I am at a loss and do not know what to do. We have had some changes at home this year and he is very headstrong and, at times, hard to control. His 16 year old brother has been in a lot of trouble recently as well. I am a single mom living only with my two children. Please help!

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

It is likely that allw as not well with your son prior to his introduction to kindergarten. If he was developing fine, with no emotional or behavioral problems, he will adapt fine. But your description of gratuitous aggression indicates some level of emotional disturbance and he should be evaluated by a pediatric mental health clinician.