destructive behavior

[Nonie57]

My 34 month old grandson seems to enjoy violence and destruction. He seems happiest when he is throwing things, hitting, being hit by other children, hearing loud noises. He is constantly running around and intentionally bumping into things. This is always ends with him laughing.He frequently grabs anything that can be used like a stick and wants to hit with it When I have seen him with other children he is always pushing and shoving and he thinks it is funny.I spend most of my time explaining to him that it is not acceptable.I have tried to get him to focus on constructive activities. I read to him, color with him, play outside with him, etc. However in all of those activites he engages in destructive behavior. He will listen for a short time when I read but then grabs the book and throws it. He will color for a short time but then breaks and throws the crayons. Outside he simply wants to collect sticks and rocks, throw them and hit with them. He thinks all of it is funny. His parents are not together. He lives with his mother and she lives with her parents. When I have seen Mom with him, she tells him to stop, but then thats it and he continues. His father, my son lives with me and he deals with it by putting him in time out. But the time out ends and behavior is the same.If I could understand the reason(s) he behaves this way, maybe there is something I could do to help.

[nancy543]

A related discussion, behavior was started.

[Cleveland Mom]

It may be wise to have your grandson evaluated for sensory processing problems as well.  Sometimes children with these difficulties seek intense physical activity, children who present in this manner are sometimes referred to as "sensory seekers."   An occupational therapist can evaluate and treat sensory processing problems.  Best wishes...

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

The boy's father is doing a sensible thing by employing time out. It will not help simply to tell him to stop what he is doing and then issuing no consequence. From a behavior management point of view, the program described in Lynn Clark's book SOS Help for Parents would be very useful to you and his parents. Now, the behavior you describe appears to be outside the normal spectrum; it sounds like it is intense and driven. This invites an evaluation by a pediatric behavioral health clincian, such a child psychologist or child psychiatrist, because underlying emotional disorders (such as Mood Disorder, Disruptive Behavior Disorder) have to be considered.