How To Cope With Passively Aggressive Children?

By Nandhini Devi

Friday, June 17, 2011, 16:21

You keep calling out to your child, he does not respond. You end up yelling at him. But the situation worsens over time. It might reflect in every activity he is supposed to do. This is passive aggression in children, a completely opposite version of aggression. Here, the child will not show any actions such as shouting, yelling, kicking etc.

Passive aggression generally occurs in children who are just entering into puberty or maybe even at a younger age. The child is resisting you and making you into believing that he cannot do anything. He is manipulating you and refraining you from giving him any responsibilities. By ignoring this passive aggression behaviour, you are just pushing his down the lane of failure.

Follow these tips to cope with passive aggression in children -

1.React at the first signs of passive aggression in children. Sulking, preferring to staying alone and manipulative behavior are some of the prominent symptoms.

2.Passive aggression in children might occur in families where there is no display of anger. It is good to show anger if you are not happy with the child's behaviour your frustration. This way you teach your child how to handle anger.

3.Be firm and cope with the first signs of passive aggression in children. Define limits for him. If he refrains from doing a particular task tell him that he will loose out something else. This may initiate him to do his task as assigned to him.

4.Give interesting rewards to your child. If he does not fuss about breakfast or completes homework on time, reward him. This will keep him motivated. Make the child a part of family activities, where ever he is capable of contributing his share.

5.Passive aggression behaviour usually occurs when your child is not able to express his angers. So, talk to your child and try to find out the cause of anger or frustration.

6.Do not leave your child alone for long durations, when he is showing any signs of frustration. Keep interacting with him and try to distract his attention from it. If stressed children are left alone, they then to build up on negative thoughts.

Adopting these parenting-tips help the child. His passive aggressive behaviour reduces overtime and he becomes a more responsible individual.

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