How to redirect aggressive behavior?
Nils Ferry
2025-07-21 11:35:37
Count answers
: 12
To redirect aggressive behavior, prompt the child to use their language to communicate their wants and needs. Sometimes, children don’t have the words that they’re looking for in their vocabulary, so they become frustrated and engage in aggressive behaviors. Redirection can also be used, redirect the child to a different activity, this works if the child is upset over a toy being taken away, or being told “no”. It’s best to try to distract the child from what’s happening by redirecting them to something else. If you believe your child engaged in aggression to escape something non-preferred, redirection should not be applied. Differential Reinforcement can be used, reinforce the child when they engage in behaviors besides aggression, this will teach the child that they get rewarded when they engage in appropriate behaviors. When your child uses communication, try to reward this as often as possible. Extinction can be applied, ignore the aggression, this does NOT mean ignore the child, rather, ignore the negative behavior.