Ask the Doctor - Answers to your Parenting Questions

Kristin,
I'm so glad you wrote. This is probably on the normal continuum of aggressive four year old behavior, but it is also possible that your son needs professional help. I can't tell that from your letter. So I am going to advise you assuming that you can manage this, and I will warn you up front that it will take some real effort on your part. Most likely, you can turn the situation around if you commit yourself to it. But you don't have a lot of time. If you don't see results within a few months, you should consider taking your son for an evaluation.

Ok, so let's assume we have a normal four year old who has begun to intimidate and hit other children. I hear often from moms with four year olds who start hitting, and some experts even call it “the angry stage.” Four year olds often hit a difficult stretch where they want more control and get angry when they are treated in what they feel is a less than respectful manner. They also test the limits, so that if they are allowed to treat others disrespectfully, they do. That doesn’t mean they’ll grow up to be axe-murderers, it means they’re four, and they need us to teach them how to manage their feelings responsibly. The key with kids this age is teaching them that feeling mad is just part of being human, but there is zero-tolerance for violent or disrespectful acts.

We can assume that your son is an intense boy with big feelings, possibly extremely sensitive. He is still developing impulse control and empathy for others. He doesn't know how to appropriately handle his anger. Somehow he has developed an inappropriate habit of dominating others to get his way.  Most likely he either he has a model of aggressive behavior, or is angry because someone is treating him badly. Maybe his parents have parented him in an overly strict manner? Is he observing some kind of violence, such as parental fighting or yelling? He may be so sensitive that he shouldn't be watching TV at all. We can certainly assume he doesn't have a lot of empathy for those other kids, which means he has not developed as much empathy as a normal four year old. Is that because he is not receiving empathy at home? Or is in some way developmentally impaired? You have to assume that a child who acts like this feels pretty bad about himself.

So, with these premises, how can you and his dad intervene?

The first thing you should know is that every time you use power over your boy you are teaching him the exact behavior you're trying to eliminate. That doesn't mean you don't set limits. Of course you must. But you set those limits with empathy. If possible, you prevent bad behavior to minimize his feeling bad about himself. Any punishment will backfire, including timeouts, by increasing his anger level and teaching him that more powerful people can push smaller people around. What he needs is a ton of love, limits set with empathy, and natural consequences (meaning we can't play with other kids if we hit them). Here's what I recommend:

1. Discuss the situation with the teachers in your son's school. It sounds like they are indeed doing a great job if they are redirecting him instead of punishing him. They have seen a wide range of kids and will be able to evaluate how severe the situation is. They will also know under what circumstances your son gets triggered. Does the hitting happen when he is hungry before lunch? Tired? Feeling crowded by the other kids? If possible, agree on the language you will use about his behavior. In other words, you want to say "He is learning to control his temper" rather than "He is a bully." These are self-fulfilling prophecies.

2. Take some time by yourselves to list all the wonderful things about your son. Usually our weaknesses are just the flip side of our strengths. I'm betting your son is a spirited, take-charge, passionate kind of guy. You will need to be in touch with all those good things about him to hold a positive image of him in your mind. Remember that when a plant is struggling it usually needs different conditions. Criticizing kids or yelling at them to "Straighten up and grow right!" doesn't work any better than it does with plants. Every day, remind yourself and your son how much you love him. It is your job as the parent to hold the image in your mind of your child flourishing. I highly recommend that you pick up Mary Sheedy Kurcinka’s Raising Your Spirited Child to help you reframe your attitude toward your son. They may well have it at your library.

3. The only reason your son will stop hitting other kids is if he feels good about himself and his relationships with you and his dad.  If he feel like he's being unfairly bossed around at home, then he will unfairly boss around the kids at school.  On the other hand, if he feels like he is treated with loving compassion, he will be MUCH more likely to treat others with loving compassion.  If he wants to please you -- and ALL kids want to please their parents, even if they don't show it because they've become convinced it's impossible -- and you make it clear that learning to control his temper will please you, he will learn to control his temper.  So the most important thing you can do is to connect with him and affirm him. Make sure that each of you has positive time with your son every single day, one on one, in which you "hang out" with him, letting him take the lead. It could be playing with trains or reading a story.  Let him be in charge. You are there to enjoy being with him and fill his “love bank account.” Focus on building your connection with him in a playful, loving way. If you can sense that your relationship with him needs some repair work, make that your top priority.

4. Make sure that every day he gets a lot of giggling in.  Why? Because giggling releases anxiety, otherwise known as fear.  Kids who are aggressive generally have a lot of fear locked up inside.  So wrestle with him, have pillow fights, pretend you're a scary monster  and chase him, but then stumble -- any physical play that gets him giggling, except for tickling (which does not provide the same release.)  You'll know you're on the right track if he's giggling - do more of that.  You're helping him release the feelings that are causing the aggression, and you're bonding with him at the same time.

5. Stop punishing and using timeouts. When we punish, kids feel bad about themselves and misbehave more. The worse they behave, the more they need our love and compassion. Eliminate any power struggles with your son. Give him choices about as many things in his life as possible so that he doesn't feel pushed around.

Please read my articles on Positive Discipline for more on discipline that works.

Tell him: ''We're going to work as a team to help you learn to manage your feelings. It’s hard when you’re four. The more you practice, the easier it gets. Soon you will be able to control yourself. I am so proud of you for trying.''

6. Instead of timeouts, set limits as necessary, offering empathy when he doesn't like them. "We have to leave church now because you hit the other boy. I'm sorry you're mad and sad, but we can't stay when you hit."

Does he get a timeout when he gets home? No. That won't help. Instead you give him words for his feelings and teach him how he might handle them next time. You ask him what happened. As he describes it, you give him words for the feelings involved: "You were mad because the other kids didn't want to play the game your way. That was pretty frustrating. It's ok to get mad, all people get mad sometimes. But we NEVER hit. What else can you do when you get really mad?" Go through all the options. Let him suggest the "bad choices" like hitting other kids, and ask him "Would that be a good choice? Nah." (Smiling is allowed.) Make it clear that while any feeling he has is ok, he chooses his own response to those feelings and he is responsible for his choices. Explain that he needs to acknowledge his angry feelings and choose to do something constructive with them.

7. Then help him brainstorm safe ways to express his frustration. Maybe he can carry a squeezy ball in his pocket to fill up with his mad feelings. Maybe he can go off by himself and take ten deep “calming” breaths when he’s frustrated (breathe in deeply through the nose, hold it a moment, and let it out very slowly through a small hole in your lips). Maybe he can turn around away from other people and hit the empty air. Maybe he can do push-ups. The trick with all of these things is to teach him while he’s feeling good, then remind him when he's upset, so be sure to share them with his teachers. You’ll be amazed when you see him try one of these techniques when he’s under stress.

8. It will increase the chances of things going smoothly, if before he will be playing with other kids, you remind him of the rules: “When we get to church, you and the other kids will all need to share the toys. If you get mad, you can ask the teacher for help, or come find me, and I will help you, ok? If you forget and hit, we will need to stop having fun and leave right away. So let’s remember to keep our hands on our own bodies and have fun with the other kids, ok? Do you have your squeeze ball? I can't wait to hear when I pick you up how you’ve managed your feelings. I am so proud of you for working hard to manage your feelings."

9. Since your son has developed some bad habits, set up some one-on-one play dates to "re-educate" him. Your goal is to supervise him, prevent any violence, teach him alternative behavior. That means you don't really want another mom there to distract you with chatting, and you can't leave them to play while you catch up on work. Your job is to simply sit with the kids while they play. You’ll see when he’s about to clobber someone, and you can intervene to prevent it. “You really want the dump truck. Devon has it right now. We don’t hit, we use our words and keep our hands on our own body.”

Help him learn to negotiate with other kids by offering solutions. “You both want the dump truck. Devon has it right now and it will be your turn soon. Do you think we could trade Devon for the snow plow?” Then model how to offer the trade to Devon. If Devon doesn’t take the deal, empathize with your son's disappointment, positively affirm that he isn’t hitting, then reassure him that waiting is worth it and that you’re there to help: “You love that truck. It’s hard to see someone else playing with it.  I will make sure you get a turn with the truck. I know how much you want it. I will help you wait.”  If he cries, comfort him and keep empathizing until it's his turn.

10. Worried that you’re indulging your kid by comforting him in his disappointment? You’re not. Clearly, ignoring his deep desire for the dump truck won’t make his feelings go away, it will just make it more likely that he’ll use the nuclear option and clobber the other kid for the truck. If you acknowledge his big feelings, he doesn’t have to act them out as much. You’re helping him develop empathy by offering him empathy. You will probably find that after he cries and you comfort him, he is much more relaxed and less aggressive with the other child. He may not even be so fixated on the dump truck. Sometimes, what they needed all along was to reconnect with Mom, or to let off stress. We all know we can feel a lot better after a good cry when someone we love holds us.

11. If, despite your best efforts, he hits the other child and makes off with the truck, take a deep breath and stay calm. First, comfort the other child.  When the other child is calm, hug your boy, and say: "You must be very upset to hit.  But hitting hurts. Now we have to stop playing.” Pick him up – not roughly, just normally – and hold him while you apologize to the child he hit. “He is so sorry he hit you. He was upset and he forgot to use his words. We hope you feel better.  We're going to go calm down. Here’s the dump truck.”  This is the only time I would ever advise taking a toy away from him, and you should do it as gently and empathically as possible. You aren’t the enemy, the rule is the enemy, like a law of nature: When you hit, you lose the toy and you have to stop playing. Then carry him away from the toys into the other room.

If he has a meltdown, hold him while he cries. If not, just help him to process what happened. Empathize with his feelings. Remind him of how he can manage them. Extract a promise that hitting won't happen again before you let him play with the other child. If he hits a second time, call the mother and tell her that you're sorry but you need to end the playdate.

12. Reinforce all progress in the right direction, including the times when he barely restrains himself. “Good job! You wanted the dumptruck and you used your words to tell me. You kept your hands on your own body! You used your squeeze ball! You took calming breaths! I am so very proud of you! Let’s see if Devon can give you a turn soon. I will help you wait for your turn.”

13. If you can make it a constant practice to honor your little guy’s feelings, he will begin to develop the emotional intelligence necessary to manage them. That doesn’t mean you have to agree with him, or that you stop setting limits. It means you acknowledge his feelings and offer empathy. “You wish you could have that candy. It’s almost dinner time, so no candy. I know that makes you sad. You can have some carrots if you’re hungry, and I can give you a hug to make you feel better. We can snuggle on the couch and read your book. I see you’re too sad and mad to read right now, you want that candy so much you’re crying. It’s hard to be so sad and mad. When you’re ready I’ll hold you and give you a big hug.”

14. The reason we don’t hit other people is that we feel for them. Helping him develop empathy is something you can do all day every day, just going through your daily life. “Look, that little girl is crying in her stroller. I wonder why she’s so sad?” or “Oh oh, Robbie fell down and got hurt. Ouch, that must hurt. Do you think it would cheer him up if we offered him a hug?” or “Kaylee sure is mad. She doesn’t want to go home, does she?” And, of course, every time you empathize with him, you are teaching him to empathize with others.

15. Be ready for meltdowns as you work with your son on his anger management. Sometimes kids hit because they can't tolerate their sad and mad feelings and they haven't been allowed to express them. Your job is to give him language for his feelings and let him express them. If he wants to cry, that's fine. Hold him and empathize: "You feel so sad you just want to cry." He doesn't have to know what it's about, and your goal is to let him get it off his chest, not to cheer him up. If he's too angry to hold, let him thrash on the floor, but stay nearby. Don't try to talk sense into him, just say "I see how mad and sad you are. When you're ready, I'm right here if you need a hug."

16. Your son may be hitting because he can't tolerate it when he doesn't get his way. By accepting the full range of his feelings and loving him through them, you're teaching him that he can't always get what he wants, but he can have something much more valuable: a chance to express the depths of his despair while he is understood and accepted by the most important person in his world. He learns that the full range of who he is inside is acceptable, even lovable. That feeling of being wholly loved and lovable will extend, over time, into more generosity with others.

17. I know this will sound crazy, but I have seen amazing personality changes when kids who were allergic to certain foods eliminated those foods from their diets. Check out the post on this forum from a mom whose kids' behavior improved dramatically when she tried the Feingold diet. You might want to check out her letter and their website, at Feingold.org.

18. Eliminate all TV.  A major study recently found a 9% increase in bullying behavior for each hour of  daily TV watched by kids under the age of four.  This may seem dramatic, but even "educational" TV can be over-stimulating for some kids.   Instead, give him plenty of fresh air and exercise after preschool, lots of snuggling and stories, and an early bedtime. That kind of a schedule gives every child more self-control. And boys, especially, often need a couple of hours of outdoor play after preschool.

19. I don't know if your son is in preschool full time, but you might consider moving him to part time if possible. Research has shown that for some kids, daycare causes more aggression. These kids need more downtime, or they feel overwhelmed, and they start hitting other kids. They benefit from attentive supervision from adults to learn social skills while they play with other kids, so playdates are better than group situations for them. And most of the time, more quality time with Mom or Dad makes a huge difference.

I know that what I'm describing may seem like a fulltime job for awhile. My feeling is that your son is at a turning point, and he's letting you know it. If you can commit yourself to his well-being, you can reorient him toward a bright future. He really needs you on his side, and now is the time to let him know you're there.

I wish you every blessing.