7-Year-Old Boy Chokes Younger Brother When Angry
My oldest son, who is 7, has tried to choke me and his younger brother. What can I do to keep him from acting out in this way? What steps should I take to improve his anger-control problems?
It sounds like his anger is a big problem for him. You always want to make sure that you and your family are safe from any type of harm. The choking behavior is concerning, so we suggest taking him to a child psychologist or a pediatrician. These individuals can help you determine the reasons for this behavior. Trying to get to the problem now while he is young will help ensure that he and others are safe in the long run.
Whenever he does choke or act out in your home, remove him from the situation. Sitting him in time-out until he calms down is a good option. Send him to a designated area away from toys and entertainment. The general rule of thumb is that a child should be in time-out one minute for each year of his life. So your son should be in time-out for seven minutes. The time-out should not start until he is calm.
Remember that giving your son a negative consequence is not only done to punish his behavior, but to teach him the appropriate behaviors as well. After he is finished with the time-out, tell him exactly why he was put there and what he should have done differently. Be as specific as possible to eliminate any confusion.
Since self-control is a struggle for him, practice this with him: Find alternative ways for him to calm down and cope when he starts to feel aggravated. He can go outside and sit down, squeeze a washcloth or stress ball or do jumping jacks to release energy. You know him best. Try to think of some things that will calm him down safely and effectively without harming him or others.