Violent Outbursts in Children

There are various conditions in children that provoke violent outbursts. It could be that your child suffers from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism, Bipolar Disorder, or may simply be going through a difficult time. With proper identification of the cause of these outbursts, along with treatment and/or therapy, your child can learn to cope with feelings that cause violent behavior.

  1. Causes

    • All children tend to have a violent outburst at one point or another, especially before they have learned to understand and control their feelings; some children, however, are at an increased risk for violent behavior and act out more often. Children that have experienced or witnessed violence in the past, are experiencing the emotional upset of a divorce or other family difficulty, have contributing genetic factors, or suffer from a disorder, exhibit more of a tendency to display violent behavior.

    Warning Signs

    • Most children do get upset and may push or even bite another child over a game or toy. It is necessary to always treat these matters accordingly, however small the incident may be, and reinforce that no violence is acceptable. It is important to look for the warning signs in children that are at risk for violent behavior. Some warning signs include intense frequent outbursts, such as severe temper tantrums. Another sign is when a child is regularly irritable or easily frustrated. Knowing what to look for will help parents recognize the early signs and seek treatment.

    Diagnosis

    • While it is usual for children to sometimes push or even bite a playmate because they want a toy, more intense tantrums may require the advice of a professional. If you find that your child's violent outbursts are becoming more regular, harder to control and not easily prevented with normal parenting, your child will benefit from an evaluation with a mental health professional. It is important that teachers and others who also provide care for your child know what is going on. Inform them of the situation and work together. More often than not, with the proper diagnosis and treatment, children can be helped to work through their anger.

    Treatment

    • Identifying situations that trigger outbursts will help prevent them from happening. Recognizing a pattern and talking about it with your child will help you to understand the underlying causes of the violent behavior. Teach your child exercises that are calming and relaxing and remind them daily to use these methods if they feel a fit of anger coming on. For younger children, distract them with something positive until their negative feelings subside. Always use positive reinforcement and reward good behavior. When disciplining your child, do not spank or hit them, as this will show them that violence is acceptable in certain circumstances. Look for other forms of discipline, such as quiet time or taking away something your child enjoys (toys, movies, games, etc.). Avoid violent games and movies, since these may increase violent behavior in children. Working consistently will yield positive results.

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