How to Raise a Non-violent Child

2023-05-24T15:00:55+00:00

By FDP

How can you raise a non-violent child?Children are bound to encounter many hurtful and stressful situations, no matter how lovingly their parents nurture them. As such, it is difficult to look around and not become disheartened, if not fearful, due to the situations around the world.Violence has become too common and little has been done to address the “why” of the problem. Most times, people tend to throw blames to the wrong things for such acts, but no one seems to understand the root of the problem. However, the root of this violence can be linked to early childhood.Children are involved in bullying, fighting, crime and even murder. Why are some children violent? The reasons are complex, but today, we’d explain two basic reasons why children become violent, according to a Developmental Psychologist, Aletha Solter. The reasons are :

Children who hurt others are usually children who have been hurt through abuse and neglect.
Repressed Emotions: Children should be allowed to cry express their emotions. They should have empathetic persons who can listen and soothe them when they are upset. These feelings should be allowed to surface else, it explodes in form of violence.

Also, childhood violence can be linked to different contents displayed through the media. Violent T.V shows, movies, video games, cartoons, plastic guns, sports (such as wrestling or boxing) are said to corrupt children’s brains. However, psychologists do not believe that such contents can cause violent behaviour. They agree that parent must look after their children to understand the reasons they become violent.

So, here are some tips to raising a non-violent child:You need to build a secure attachmentFor children, the first seven years of life is referred to an attachment phase of development. Children need someone who can respond to their cries and challenges as well as someone who can show them warmth and affection. So, attachment security helps to build a strong emotional bond.Use positive disciplineStudies have shown that harsh discipline such as slapping, spanking and threats of violence raise the level of violence in children. This can inflict emotional wounds. So, parents can replace these punishments with problem-solving methods to teach them better behaviours.Create a loving home environmentA supportive environment where children are heard, seen and treated with respect should be created. This helps them to be physically, emotionally and psychologically safe.Read More: How Women Can Ditch the Guilt