How to Stop a Toddler From Kicking Walls
When your child is displaying an aggressive behavior by kicking walls, work with him to improve his ability to control his feelings. A variety of triggers can cause your child̵7;s tantrums, so identify the cause and work to reduce the circumstances that promote your child acting out in frustration. A variety of coping mechanisms, changes in his schedule and teaching him to improve his communication skills may help reduce your child̵7;s tantrums.
Instructions
Communicate your dissatisfaction firmly when your child is displaying unacceptable behaviors. Use sentences such as, ̶0;Stop kicking the walls. That behavior is unacceptable.̶1; Your words should be firm and direct, but keep your emotions under control and avoid yelling. Use a timeout as a consequence for his actions. When your child kicks walls, put him in a timeout in a quiet space to give him the opportunity to cool down. After the timeout -- when your child is in a more rational state -- communicate with him about kicking the walls. Acknowledge that his feelings are valid, but his actions are unacceptable. Use dolls or stuffed animals to act out appropriate responses to stressful situations. Identify the triggers that initiate your child kicking the wall. Keep a journal and make notes about foods he eats, communication that takes place, schedule changes or patterns that lead up to his aggressive actions. If possible, make the necessary changes to avoid these triggers. Provide your child with alternative ways to communicate his feelings so you can help provide a solution. When your child feels like he can̵7;t get his point across, his feelings might quickly escalate to aggressive behaviors. Teach him the words for feelings or provide him with pictures of faces that show feelings he might want to express. This will help him communicate his feelings without a tantrum. Allow more time for your child to sleep to get a handle on his meltdowns. In a KidPower.org article, Irene van der Zande, a child safety expert, suggests that some children thrive on strict sleep schedules. Create a daily routine so your child goes to bed early enough to get enough rest during the night. Add naps to your child̵7;s daily schedule if necessary. Incorporate healthy changes into your child̵7;s lifestyle. Take your child to the park or somewhere else where he can burn off some energy. Feed your child healthy food instead of soda, candy or sugar-laden treats. Find a local yoga class for kids and enroll your child. The Kaplan University Center for Health and Wellness reports that yoga may help children manage their stress and thus reduce aggression and behavioral problems. Avoid situations where your child is overstimulated. Only allow your child to play with one toy at a time, and avoid having the television or a movie playing in the background. If your efforts to help your child don't seem to be reducing or ending his wall-kicking, talk to your pediatrician to rule out any physical or psychological issues.
