Whether your child has regular temper tantrums or just recently started to have meltdowns, you want to get to the cause of this behavior. The expression “acting out” often refers to problem behavior that is destructive to property, physically aggressive, or verbally aggressive. This behavior is disruptive in any setting and usually requires formal behavioral intervention to manage it. So, why is your child acting out? Read on to know the answers:
An Upsetting Situation
Some kids act out to respond to a situation that has upset them to the point where they cannot manage their emotions. Sometimes, a child may respond to something that is taking place outside the immediate setting. For instance, a child abused in school may act out at school where they can show their feelings with greater safety.
Mental Health Condition
Kids may act out due to untreated disorders such as ADHD, anxiety disorders, autism, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. These disorders can be effectively treated with a combination of therapies; however, treatment should be appropriate and consistent.
Search for Attention
Often, seeking for attention is the most common reason a child acts out. They display disruptive behavior to get the attention they want from you as fast as possible. If they fail to get enough positive attention, they will look for constructive ways for you to take notice.
Learning Disabilities
Frustration due to undiagnosed or untreated learning disabilities is also another cause for acting out. For instance, a child with undiagnosed dyslexia will fall further behind in school. If left unaddressed, this problem will make the child unable to learn in a typical classroom setting.
Sensory Problems
Sometimes, kids act out due to unrecognized sensory problems like sensory processing disorder that may not be recognized. For instance, a lot of kids who have autism may have sensory challenges that make ordinary sounds and sights physically painful.
Power Shifts
Kids crave self-worth and power. They wish to feel autonomy and independence. They have to feel in control of their actions and surroundings. They tend to act out to regain control for a short time.
The majority of kids aren’t predestined to show disruptive behavior and while the process of acting out can occur suddenly, it might be boiling up for a long time before it has erupted. Digging to get the bottom of why your child is acting out can takes effort and time. Consider if you have any major influence on their behavior. Look for dynamic ways to connect with your little one and see the world from their eyes.
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