Woof, woof! As unsettling as it may seem, it’s good that you’ve noticed these changes. Any kind of behavior is information. Adjustment in behavior can sometimes be a signal that a child is struggling with something.
It could be that your child is finding it hard to handle underlying stress on their own. Other reasons might include boredom, and feeling bad for not understanding lessons at school. The behavior might also act as a means to get away from a situation they don’t like or want to avoid, and it could be related to sensory stimulation or even attention seeking. Children at the elementary level often have limited ability to identify, understand, and respond to the emotions they’re experiencing. Your child might be communicating through behavior instead of communicating verbally.
Research shows that children who have a strong foundation in emotional literacy tolerate frustration better, get into fewer fights, and engage in less self-destructive behavior than children who do not have a strong foundation. When you notice the behavioral changes, this can be an opportunity to start a conversation with your child that encourages them to describe how they’re feeling. Asking questions about what they are experiencing can help you build their vocabulary to express their needs and their feelings calmly. You can also teach emotional vocabulary by sitting down with them and have them list all the feelings they already know. This is a great way to gauge their understanding of emotions, and it also gives you an idea of which ones need more explanation. Role-playing is another fun way for kids to practice expressing their emotions in various scenarios.
You can have your child act out what they would do if they felt certain emotions while in different situations. These activities can help them understand how and which reactions are appropriate and healthy.
It’s important to rule out all the potential reasons for the behavior listed above before looking more seriously at whether a mental health condition is at the root of the behavior. If you are concerned this might be the cause – a great next step is to reach out to your child’s school counselor.
Being proactive is a paw-sitive first step!