quick clicks

preschoolers today articles

preschoolers today q&a

children today articles

children today q&a

community & groups

research baby names

prepare a birth plan

content channels

ip channel rss feeds

read birth stories

read parenting stories

recommended books

e-newsletters

safety recalls

ip diaries

ip store

mom of the month

dad of the month

editor's letter

letters to the editor

Expert Q&A

	By Harriet S. Worobey, M.A. Early Childhood Educator Director, the Nutritional Sciences Preschool

At what point should I become worried about my 4-year-old son's aggression and hyperactivity?

I would only become concerned about your son's aggression and "hyperactivity" when he starts school or preschool IF it interferes with his ability to conform to rules. Many 4-year-old boys are overly active and aggressive. Some school districts have "early find" programs. These are special preschools where they can observe children who might have problems once they start formal schooling and begin appropriate interventions ahead of time.

At this point all you need to do is to have consequences for aggression. For hitting, I hold a child's hands until they become very frustrated while saying, "The rule is -- NO HITTING." When they are at the peak of their frustration I let go to see if they can contain themselves without acting out. If they hit again, I repeat the previous action until they learn to contain themselves.

When a child is very active, be careful of using traditional time-out. Some active children need to make up for time spent sitting still by becoming extra active later. I like to use moving time out by having them run back and forth a specific number of times or requiring some other activity. If they refuse to comply, give them a choice of being restrained or performing the time-out activity.

View more Q&A by this Expert