Posted by daisym on December 15, 2005, at 18:39:45
In reply to Is this still normal? Trigger?, posted by Dinah on December 13, 2005, at 21:04:08
We see this behavior a lot in children with special needs because they can't verbalize what they feel. Do you think your son can't/is afraid to verbalize his feelings? My first thought is that he feels bad for having these feelings but you've reassured him that they are OK. That doesn't mean that he believes you but still, it is important to say.
How do you and dad display anger? I'd look carefully at this.
Like most things kids do, if he gets a reaction from you about it, good or bad, he is likely to keep doing it. There are places we as parents need to put our foot down around safety; head knocking would fall into this category. If you've given him the things he can do, which are appropriate, I think you can say to him exactly what you've said but add, "no more head banging or hitting yourself. Choose something else."
My guess is this behavior will be gone by 11. But what you don't want is it replaced with some other underground activity that is even less acceptable. I'm sorry he is having a hard time. Life hasn't been easy over the past year, has it?
poster:daisym
thread:588792
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/child/20050817/msgs/589423.html