What can I do to correct conduct when the pre-schooler won't listen?

Question

I currently have a child with speech problems that is very violent. He understands that what he is doing is wrong because he either hides or covers his ears. The problem is in hitting other children and respecting authority. The hitting ranges to mild from violent and he throws amazing tantrums when reprimanded. The child age 4, comes from a divorced family and lives with his newly wed father. He's knows of the problem but the conduct persists, what can be done?

Answer 1

SPANK HIM.

Answer 2

The child is probally frustrated because he can't verbalize what he feels or wants. I think you should try helping him work out the problems with the other children. If he is hitting because he wants a toy, give him the words, " If you want that toy, Ask your friend if you can play with it when he is done" If he can't ask, Show him how to ask. When he hurts another child, sit down with both children and find out why. Give the boy a chance to apologize.

Also any time you see him starting to get angry, teach him how to calm him self down. -Tell him, " Let's sit down and take a break together" Give him a hug, Tell him to take a deep breath.- He needs to learn coping skills. Reward him for calming himself down.

Answer 3

I think most of what you need to do needs to happen before the behaviors occur.  Make sure you are preteaching the 'rules' that you expect.  Make sure you are using positive statements (e.g. 'hands down' as opposed to 'don't hit').  I have 3 rules in my prek behavior class...be safe, be friendly, and be a worker.  do not use a lot of language, and keep it simple.  All behavior has a function, and it would help to try to figure out what the function is...to get out of doing something (speech), to get attention, both, etc...Also, you may want to look at more services for this child.  Assessments for his behavior (social and emotional) and adaptive skills may qualify him for more intensive services that could help get his behavior under control before he starts kindergarten.

Answer 4

Send him home until his parents can control his unacceptable behavior.  It is not fair to the other kids.

Kids with two parents, even if one is a step-parent, should not be in daycare anyway.

Answer 5

sound like a lot of penned up anger but I'm not a Dr. has anyone tried teaching ASL to this child. he may want to express ihis needs and feelings but can't because of his speech and it angers him to not understood. good luck

Answer 6

Don't use too much language.  Don't try and reason with him or say, 'That's unkind.' etc.  When ever he hits some one say, "No" firmly, but not shouting, use a hand gesture as well and put him away from the child.  Then (and this is important) give the child that was hit lots of attention.  If the little boy has a tantrum then just ignore him.  Also consider introducing sign language, Makaton is a simplified sign language which you could find out about on the Internet.  Also give him lots of attention when he is being good.  This will not work overnight, you have to persevere.

Answer 7

Put him in time out or make some mild form of punishment.

Answer 8

Time out if that does not work  try a activity that redirects his interest. Show him a book or a video. Anything that gets his attention long enough to distract him. Good Luck