Common Behavioral Concerns During Early Childhood of a Kid

It is common for children to break the rules and go against the norm to ‘test’ authority. Only that way do they understand what behavior is appropriate and what is not. We shall talk about the behaviors that kids tend to exhibit from time to time and how we can handle a child with behavior problems. Children are cute when naughty. A few tantrums, arguments, and yelling once in a while are not abnormal. But if such behavior becomes a daily occurrence, then it is a cause for concern. In general, a kid’s behavior is deemed to be normal if it is socially, developmentally, and culturally appropriate. You can consider a child’s behavior normal even if it does not meet societal or cultural expectations, but is otherwise age-appropriate and not harmful. Here are some common signs that you might observe in your child’s behavior during early childhood.

Child behavior concerns in the preschool years 

Anxiety

Anxiety is a normal part of children’s development, and preschoolers often fear things like being on their own or being in the dark. If your child worries too much or shows signs of anxiety, you can support her by acknowledging her fear, gently encouraging her to do things she’s anxious about, and praising her when she does. If anxiety is affecting your child’s life, see your doctor anytime soon. Going to school can cause anxiety for the children since they move out from the safe environment of the home to a different unfamiliar environment.

Bullying 

Bullying can be devastating for children’s confidence and self-esteem, especially in the preschool years. If your child is being bullied at preschool, she needs lots of love and support, both at home and at preschool. She also needs to know that you’ll take action to prevent any further bullying.

Fighting

Disagreements and fighting among children are very common. A few factors affect fighting like temperament, environment, age, and skills. You can work with these factors to handle fighting in your family. 

Habits 

Lots of children have habits, like biting nails or twirling hair. Your child’s habits might bother you, but usually, it’s nothing to worry about. Most habits go away by themselves when they learn good manners and some skills at a kids’ school or home.

Lying 

You might have caught your child telling the occasional lie. Lying is part of development, and it often starts around three years of age. It’s usually better to teach young children the value of honesty and telling the truth than to punish them for small lies. Nursery Schools will help you in that case, they teach moral values to a kid from scratch.

Shyness 

Shy behavior is normal in preschoolers. If your child is slow to warm up, try to support her in social situations. For example, you could stay at preschool for a while in the mornings during the early days. It’s also good to praise your child for brave social behavior, like responding to others, using eye contact, or playing away from you.

Tantrums

If your child throws tantrums, it might help to remember that he’s still learning appropriate ways to express feelings. If you work on reducing your child’s stress, tuning into your child’s feelings, and spotting your child’s tantrum triggers, you should see fewer tantrums after he turns four.

When to get serious about such behavior? 

In case abnormal behaviors turn into something unmanageable at home, or if your child is making a mistake repeatedly, it is time for you to see a doctor. There could be a deeper reason for him to behave in a certain way. The professional will look into the physical and mental health of the child before recommending medications, special therapy, or counseling. Under what circumstances could the child’s behavior become out of control? You can even contact your kids’ preschool to know whether the child repeatedly behaves the same at the school as well.

What Can Parents Do?

Don’t be hyper about your child’s development. Just behave normally and they will grow into normal, well-adjusted adults. Next time your child misbehaves, just remember that you are the mature person in the relationship and be calm and gentle. All hurdles will automatically get removed.