Everyone gets mad. As we develop, most people learn how to manage their emotions and release their anger in situationally appropriate ways. We figure out how to quickly process our feelings, remain calm, and hopefully respond to angering situations gently. It’s impossible to expect the same thing from a small child.
As you familiarize yourself with your child’s emotions, it’s important to understand which strong emotions are developmentally appropriate and which result from a traumatic event in their lives or a diagnosis like autism.
What Is Developmentally Appropriate Anger?
We all know how frustrating it can be to be unable to communicate our feelings. The desire to be heard and understood is human nature, so imagine the instinct in a small child who has very little autonomy over their daily routine or who has not developed the vocabulary to adequately express themselves. It’s no wonder young children have bouts of aggression.
If your child’s tantrums persist beyond the age of seven, if they’re struggling academically or socially, or if they are a danger to themselves or others, we’ve stepped out of the category of developmentally appropriate anger. Often children with aggression problems are as upset by their own inability to control their emotions. Seeking ABA therapy for aggressive behavior will be a relief to your child and the rest of the family.
What Will ABA Therapy Do For Aggression?
Applied Behavioral Analysis is a type of treatment that works to help patients increase positive behaviors and decrease negative behaviors. Notice that the goal of ABA isn’t to remove negative feelings like anger or frustration but to teach children to choose better responses to their feelings of anger. One method we use is to redirect a patient’s attention to more effective behaviors so their needs can be more easily met.
In children on the autism spectrum, we teach them social skills that are known to mitigate aggressive behavior. This might include game playing and modeling to help them identify and share their feelings and create more positive interactions in their daily lives. We believe that ABA Therapy is far and away the best treatment for aggression in children, and our practitioners are the best in the field.
How Can ABA Therapy Help Parents Support Their Children?
It can be extremely frustrating to have a child whose behavior routinely disrupts the family routine. In the frustration of helping a child cope with their negative emotions, it’s common for parents to allow their own anger to explode into yelling and threatening. And most parents would say that the attempt to match your child’s negative energy with your own is a losing battle. Therapy is great for the whole family because it gives parents essential tools to moderate their own negative behavior and set a good example for their kids.
Whether you realize it or not, you set the tone in your household, and your child is looking to you to lead by example. When your child spirals out of control, it’s important you stay calm and don’t give into the tidal wave of their negative emotions. Be a safe place in a moment of frustration. It also helps when parents can identify their children’s anger triggers in advance so you can help them slow down the wave before it gets out of control. As your child attends therapy for their aggression issues, you’ll be amazed at how much you learn about how to better support them.
Your child’s aggression issues don’t have to rule your whole household. If you believe your child’s aggression has moved beyond what’s developmentally and situationally appropriate, Applied Behavioral Analysis therapy can help. Our team is trained to help you navigate this overwhelming season. Contact our office today to learn more.
