Of course kids get angry. Parents get angry. I get that and know what to do to help children learn to express anger in appropriate ways. But when should we get concerned that there is more to it – that a child might have anger issues.
Here’s a list of warning signs. If your child exhibits several of these behaviors for at least 6 months, it’s time to take action.
- frequently loses temper
- defies or refuses to follow adult rules
- is touchy, easily angered
- often annoys and upsets people on purpose
- often bullies, threatens or scares others
- often starts physical fights
- is physically cruel to people or animals
- is often spiteful or wants revenge
- purposely damages people’s things
If you think there could be a problem, talk to a professional. Make an appointment with a mental health professional, doctor, school nurse, or school counselor. They can do an evaluation and determine is there is a problem. And together you can decide on any needed action or treatment options.
If I did any of those things as a kid, I would have been spanked. There would have been no need to go to a professional, because I would have learned then and there to not do it again.
Ben – Parents may want to talk to a professional if their child shows several of the listed behaviors over a period of several months. A professional can help determine if there is a behavioral problem, an anger issue. If you haven’t already done so you may want to go back to the previous month when the podcast and blogs were about corporal punishment. We had lots of conversation about spanking.