Mar 12, 2007, 16:30 GMT
Hamburg - Parents should always lay out clear rules for their children, and that's especially true when children act aggressively.
'It's important to be consistent. When children violate rules or arrangements, they should not get any positive reinforcement for emotions such as rage,' said Christa Schaff, chairwoman of Germany's professional association for child psychiatrists, psychosomaticists and psychotherapists.
Parents should appear calm and act decisively against engaging in a discussion, and above all, they should not talk too much themselves. Trying to settle the situation immediately by admonitions or punishment often has the opposite effect, namely an escalation of the rage.
It's much better to separate oneself from the child and to send him or her to her room, to a punching bag or another place in the home especially designed for letting out rage.
'When everything has calmed down again, the situation should be discussed and each participant should describe his or her point of view so that everyone can learn from the situation,' Schaff recommends.
To prevent aggression without placing too much strain on children, a parent's request should always be clear and simply formulated, the expert advises.
Only punishments that parents can uphold should be mentioned, said Schaff, who is a child psychiatrist. Parents should serve as a role model and should seek conversation with the child. They should reinforce desired behaviours and also encourage and praise the child, said Schaff.
Aggressive behaviour that continues is an alarm signal. A child that regularly reacts aggressively should see a child psychiatrist, Schaff said. The physician can clarify whether the child has a perception disorder, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder or whether another problem is behind the aggression.
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