My 6 year old son bangs his head when he gets angry / feels unfairly treated?

Question

He used to do it at home, but I managed to "talk him out of it", by telling him that all he was doing was hurting himself, that big boys don't do that etc..,

BUT, now he has started doing it at school. When the teacher tells him off, or he feels that he has got into trouble unfairly, he will start banging his head against the wall/table/inanimate obejects.

He doesn't do it hard enought to leave a mark, or really hurt himself, but his teacher and I are worried about it. Obviously, it is not normal behaviour, but:

-Would anyone suggest that a phsychiatrist would be best?

-Do you think just discussing the subject could work?

-Has it happened to anyone else with their kid/s? If so, how did you resolve it?

Thanks for your help!

Krissy x

Answer 1

My daughter was pulled out of kindergarden class twice this year for throwing tantrums cause she couldnt have her way. They are still little and trying to learn all the rules. just explain to him he cant do that as i did. i also will ignore and walk away from her. i tell her that when she is done throwing a fit that she can come back out of her room and talk to mommy. she gets bored real fast and stops when she see's that she is not getting the attention that she thought she would....let him bang his head, walk away and ignore it!

Answer 2

Sounds like you should first talk to his doctor..then go have him talk to a conseler...

sounds like something is going on, and he needs to release it to someone not in the houehold...

and a teacher shouldnt be telling him off....that person has a problem...

Answer 3

I would take him to his primary doctor, not to freak you out but it might be autism.  My youngest brother has it and they do repetitive behaviours when they are upset or when they feel out of control of a situation like banging their heads.

Answer 4

Definately go to a neurologist they are the specialists with this.  It sounds like it could be anxiety or an autistic spectrum disorder.  At any rate he is very functional and either dx can be dealt with without incident.  For school ask for support for him with a behavior plan or 504.  My son has a behavior plan attached to his IEP.  The IEP is academic support, since your son doesn't need this a 504 is support that isn't academic.

My son is autistic spectrum but he has many things that could benefit your son like a break card, +reinforcers, a corral around his desk ect

My son did used to bang his head.  It stopped age 3 as his sensory system improved through OT.

I don't think discussing it will work because it is neurological in nature not behavioral

Answer 5

When I was still a kid, I used to do that all the time whenever I get treated unfairly. From what I remember, I bang my head on the wall only because I sorta want the person who treated me badly to regret what he did. I didn't really get a medication for that kind of behavior. I just grew out of it.. so I guess it's just a phase and you need to guide your kid to hasten the process.