What Are the Causes of Behavioral Problems in Young Children?

TV Viewing

• Research conducted by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2007 found that children between the ages of two and five who watched more than two hours of television per day were more likely to develop aggressive behavior problems than those who watched less. The 1995 Department of Canadian Heritage report found that children begin to pay more attention to the television as "viewers" from around the age of two and a half, imitating what they see and hear. The violence displayed on TV, particularly cartoon violence, grabs the attention of young children, who then behave more aggressive than usual in their play and interactions with others. Limit the amount of "screen time" your children have access to each day to two hours or less, including TV, video game consoles, computers and phones--giving your child the option to choose helps him to feel he has control over his free time, while ensuring a limit to the harmful effects of information-overload and inappropriate content.

Diet

• Most of us know that what we eat and drink affects how we feel, from our morning coffee to eating one too many candy bars. However, our diet and nutrition can affect us much more acutely than we may realize, and even more so for developing toddlers and children. The Australian Telethon Institute for Child Health Research found that diets high in processed foods lead to a greater risk of behavior and emotional problems for children and teens, as well as double the risk of having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). A significant relationship between what children eat and their brain function was revealed by the 2009 study, with a Western diet of increased takeaway foods, confectionery and red meat creating increased withdrawn, depressed, delinquent and aggressive behavior in children. Balance children's diets with fresh and unprocessed foods, rich in vitamins and nutrients, and avoid processed, fried and refined foods--typically manufactured foods with a long list of ingredients.

Acting Out

• While some behavioral issues can be linked to clinical diagnoses, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), most children act out to gain attention, to be heard or to communicate their needs and desires. While dealing with poor behavior can leave parents feeling as though they want to distance themselves from their child, try viewing their disruption as a call for help. The popular book by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish, "How To Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk," shares some of the secrets of creating better communication with children. Try acknowledging your child's feeling when she is acting out, to indicate that you understand what's going on for her: "You sound really annoyed that you can't have more candy." Explaining children's actions can help build awareness and knowledge, rather than just reprimanding them: "The books get damaged when you throw them like that," instead of "Stop it!"