How to Deal with Children Who Hit?

Does your child hit others? Here is what you must know about helping your child to quit the habit of hitting others.Parenting can be a challenge in more than one way. While some children have their behaviour shaped up with the help of external surroundings around them, there are some who suffer from issues related to severe anger. As this anger increases with age, it brings physical actions in the form of hitting, beating, and other forms of violence. For parents, it increasingly becomes difficult to control such children.Children suffering from severe anger issues, including hitting need special attention. While some turn to the less relevant options of indifference and ignorance, it is advisable to take up the challenge to eliminate the anger in the kids. These kids not only indulge in violence with their friends, but also with their own family members on several occasions. In this articlePut an End to NegativityDiscussions and DialoguesReward Positive BehaviourHelp the Children Come Up with Alternate StrategiesDo Not Give UpPut an End to NegativityFirstly, recognise what is causing the anger inside your child. Is it an action that you are unknowingly committing or is it something that your child is knowingly hiding from you? If the origins of the anger are recognised, it can prove to be useful to deal with anger. However, if you are unable to do so, you can make a sincere effort to at least minimise all the negativity around the child. Stop using harsh words amongst the family. A little love goes a long way in solving this issue.Discussions and DialoguesSo, you saw your child hitting your neighbour’s child? While most parents would begin hitting their own children for this act, it is recommended that you make your child apologise and also make her discuss the real issue behind the quarrel with the other children. Spare some time, talk to your child, and let her know that you are interested to hear the reason for her anger. Honest dialogues give an assurance to the children, thus helping them to open up.Reward Positive BehaviourBelieve when we say this, but the world is a very strange place for children suffering from anger. They hardly recognise beauty and in some cases, are indifferent to it. You could encourage your child to maintain a positive behaviour at home, or in any social gathering. Ask her to plant a sapling every weekend, or go out for charity work once a week. This not only calms the child from the inside, but also helps her understand the society around her. Psychologically, this could indeed help in eliminating anger.Help the Children Come Up with Alternate StrategiesYou could advise your kids to come up with activities or give a few to them to combat anger. It is important to know that these activities should not be very taxing for the body, but relaxing for the mind. If your child has just had an outburst, make her listen to some meditative music or whatever they prefer. Music helps in calming down, and similar strategies can soon replace the anger inside your child.Do Not Give UpYes, do not give up! Parenting an angry child can be a huge challenge, especially for first timers. However, a child who hits others and even you is still a child. Some children require special attention because of the elements they might have unknowingly incorporated from their environment. Understand the needs of your child and help them in overcoming their fears.Some parents believe that consistent pampering and bending in to their child’s demands might stop her from hitting others. Being afraid from your child’s behaviour will never bring any positive results but only aggravate the entire process. Do not be harsh, but be firm. The process of eliminating anger is a very long one, but the results are always rewarding. Anger in the form of physical violence has the potential to ruin a child’s future and thus should be recognised and eliminated as early in their life as possible.Why do some children have habit of hitting others? How do children develop habit of hitting others? What are the ways to help children quit the habit of hitting others? Discuss here.