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More tips on dealing with agression
- Reinforce responsibility: If your youngsters’ aggression damages someone’s property or makes a mess, they should make it right again. They can glue a broken toy back together, for instance, or clean up the crackers or books they hurled in anger. They may even need to use money from their allowance to fix or replace the item. Don’t frame this action as a punishment, but rather the natural consequence of a belligerent act — something that anyone would need to do if he or she broke something
- Saying ‘sorry’: Also make sure your children understand that they need to say “I’m sorry” when they overstep their bounds — even if you have to lead them by the hand to the offended party and wait there until they say it. Their apologies may seem insincere at first, but the lesson will eventually sink in
- Reward good behavior: Rather than paying attention to your children only when they misbehave, try to catch them being good — when they ask for a turn at the computer game instead of snatching the mouse away, for instance, or giving up the swing to another child who’s been waiting. When your children rack up a whole week of good marks, reward them with something special — a trip to the mall, say, or a weekend matinee with their best friends
- Limit TV time: Fathers need to aware that innocent-looking cartoons and other so-called children’s shows are often rife with shouting, threats, shoving, and hitting. So keep close tabs on what your children tune in to — particularly if they are prone to aggression
