Children must face a whole series of learning challenges throughout their development. In which they will need the positive reinforcement of their parents. For example, when teaching a child to tolerate frustration, to build a healthy self-esteem or not to resort to violent attitudes, that is, not to hit. Educating children not to physically attack is often a matter of concern for parents.
The reasons why children hit others are mainly divided into two. The first of them has to do with the instinct to defend themselves when they feel threatened, so they do it to protect themselves. The other reason has to do with a way of externalizing when they feel angry, frustrated or in a bad mood. This is how the child psychologist Katia Aranzabal Barrutia explains it.
The specialist affirms that some of the parents who come to her office feel guilty because their children have a tendency to hit other children. Katia Aranzabal affirms that this is not something that is in the control of the parents. However, what is part of her responsibility is the fact of educating children based on patience and respect for others. This will represent part of the foundations that will make a child able to relate properly with others, in a “healthy and empathetic way.”
The intervention of the parents in cases in which a fight occurs should be as “impartial referees”, that is, they help to establish a dialogue between the two children, who must reach a peaceful agreement. The only cases in which adults should act is when a worrying situation of violence or abuse occurs, specifies the psychologist.
Parents must educate their children to prevent them from resorting to violence against others, this will be achieved by following a series of recommendations.
