Aggressive child usually have low self-confidence. They are attention seekers and enjoy the attention they gain from being aggressive, quarrelsomeness, vengefulness and destructiveness. Children who exhibit aggressive behavior also tend to have a multitude of other problems. Lying, solitary stealing and temper tantrums are also common. Such children tend to be sexually uninhibited and inclined towards sexual aggressiveness. Hyperactivity and inattention are often characteristics of aggressive kids. A minority may engage in fire-setting, vandalism and even homicidal acts.

 

Aggressive child usually have low self-confidence. They are attention seekers and enjoy the attention they gain from being aggressive, quarrelsomeness, vengefulness and destructiveness. Children who exhibit aggressive behavior also tend to have a multitude of other problems. Lying, solitary stealing and temper tantrums are also common. Such children tend to be sexually uninhibited and inclined towards sexual aggressiveness. Hyperactivity and inattention are often characteristics of aggressive kids. A minority may engage in fire-setting, vandalism and even homicidal acts.

Kids usually come from a family setting typically characterized by rejection, harsh and inconsistent discipline and general frustration. Frequently the parents are unstable in their marital relationships, emotionally disturbed or even sociopathic and provide the child little in the way of consistent guidance, acceptance or affection. Aggressive kids tend to come from low socio-economic backgrounds, with higher levels of violence. Problems in parenting skills and conflict in the home are the main contributing factors in producing aggressiveness in children.

Violence on television is an equally strong contributory factor affecting kids negatively according to psychological research. Three major effects of seeing violence on TV are:

• Children can become less sensitive to the pain and suffering of others.
• Children may be more fearful of the world around them.
• Children can become more aggressive in their behavior towards others.

 

Aggressive children manifest such characteristics as overt or covert hostility, disobedience, physical and verbal aggressiveness,

How to deal with an aggressive child

• Never ignore inappropriate aggressions and do not get drawn into a power struggle with the aggressor.
• Be firm but gentle in your approach. Remember, the aggressor can handle the tough side of you but he/she will succumb to gentleness and it's really what he wants - the right kind of attention.
• Deal one to one with the aggressor and devise a plan for him/her to take control of their own behavior.
• Successful teachers know that when they establish a one to one relationship with the aggressor, success soon follows. Remember, the aggressor can usually tell if you genuinely like him/her, be genuine, this child merely needs attention.
• Provide opportunities for this child to act appropriately and get some badly needed attention, give him/her responsibilities and provide praise.
• Catch the aggressor behaving well and provide immediate, positive feedback. In time, you will see that the aggressive behaviors will start to diminish.
• Provide him/her with activities that bring forth leadership in a positive way, always let him/her know that you care, trust and respect him. Remind him/her that it's the inappropriate behaviors that you don't like.

• Provide as many methods as you can for this child to take ownership for his/her inappropriate behavior. Probe him/her with how should that have been handled and how will it be handled next time.