Behavior Modification for Head Banging in Toddlers

With their limited language skills, toddlers can easily become overwhelmed with frustration and anger, feeling unable to express and resolve the unpleasant emotions. When your toddler engages in head-banging behavior, it̵7;s important to intervene and help him find safer and more effective ways to manage his unpleasant feelings.

  1. Pinpoint Triggers

    • A child often begins head-banging in response to specific triggers, according to the Early Childhood Parenting Center website. Sometimes family stress can trigger this behavior. If a toddler is experiencing excessive stress and frustration in connection with milestones such as child care or potty training, you may notice the head-banging behavior begin. Head-banging may also crop up in a child who becomes overextended with hunger or fatigue. Once you understand the triggers, work to resolve or minimize them for your child.

    Prevent Injury

    • Interrupt the head-banging behavior as quickly as possible to prevent your child from hurting herself, advises the Early Childhood Parenting Center. Pick up your child to stop her from banging her head, holding her gently, yet firmly. Tell your child simply, ̶0;No banging your head. I won't let you hurt yourself.̶1;

    Nurture and Connect

    • To help your child move past the head-banging, establish a loving connection, suggests Dr. Laura Markham, with the Aha! Parenting website. Generally, a toddler who is in the tempest of a tantrum and banging his head needs to feel the strong nurturing connection with an adult who loves him. Resist the urge to scold or punish your child, instead soothing and calming him to help the child move past his anger and frustration.

    Name Feelings

    • Give the feelings your child is experiencing names to help her manage emotions and learn how to express them appropriately, advises child psychologist Terrie Rose, with the Dr. Terrie Rose website. Keep your language simple to enable your child to understand. You might say, ̶0;I hear that you̵7;re mad. You want ice cream now. I̵7;ll help you feel better.̶1; Often just the acknowledgement of feelings and the connected empathy can help your little one calm down, too.

    Offer Alternatives

    • Help your child find alternatives to alleviate the anger and frustration, suggests psychologist Anita Sethi, with the Parenting website. Distraction can be an effective behavioral management tool with toddlers, due to their young age. While holding your upset child, in the throes of a tantrum, walk to a different area of the home to change the scenery, which may distract him. If your child continues to try to bang his head, place him in a cushioned spot, such as a bed or a couch. Continue to stay with your child, talking soothingly and reassuringly, about the anger and frustration. Eventually your child should calm with this loving support.

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