How to Redirect Aggression

Aggression involves actions that injure another person, either physically or emotionally. Aggressive behavior between children can cause concern when you witness it. If your child exhibits aggressive behavior toward others, redirection might involve helping your child move past the incident or helping him manage his own behavior. As your child gradually learns limits, he will become more adept at the self-control necessary to prevent harmful outbursts.

Instructions

    • 1

      Interrupt the aggressive behavior to stop it. For example, if your child teases another youngster, pulls a child̵7;s hair in anger or you witness your youngster expressing his frustration physically by pinching his little brother, stop the actions either verbally by telling your child to stop or physically by gently separating your child from the other child.

    • 2

      Give a short directive about hurting others to explain that hurting others physically or emotionally is unacceptable. You might say, ̶0;No hurting others.̶1; or ̶0;We don̵7;t hurt when we get mad.̶1; If your child was misusing an object, explain that it̵7;s not okay to destroy objects.

    • 3

      Steer your child away from the aggressive interaction and find her something else on which to focus. You might go to another part of the room and take a different toy off a shelf or walk to a different area of the house to engage in a different activity. If your child was directing aggression toward a toy or another object, take the toy away and offer your child something physical to do such as playing with water or digging in the sand, advises the North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension. A physical activity can help relieve overwhelming energy and emotions.

    • 4

      Stay with your child until you see that he is focusing on the new activity, and he has moved past the aggressive outburst.

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