Behavioral specialist- severe aggression in toddler

amother

Sienna

Fri, Sep 16 2016, 4:02 pm

Has anyone had early intervention services for a very aggressive kid who is always hurting others? My 2 year old child is very smart, and very verbal. He plays wells and has no developmental delays. I don't know if he would qualify as he is bright and shows no signs of difficulty when playing alone. However, he is always biting/hitting/banging/throwing/bothering other kids to the extreme. He can't share and can't play nicely ever. This is affecting other family members who he always hurts and no time outs or consequences have shown any difference.

Please share if you know if early intervention for behavioral support is hard to get.

anonymrs

Fri, Sep 16 2016, 4:38 pm

I don't know if EI services kids who are aggressive but your child may qualify for OT due to possible sensory processing issues. I'm just guessing from the behaviors you describe. Otherwise, you can try an agency that provides ABA therapy which is billed to your insurance.

chani8

Sat, Sep 17 2016, 1:10 pm

Definitely get him evaluated. It's always worth it to talk to the experts.

For now, I'd watch that he doesn't get too much time with others. Certainly protect the child/ren that he keeps hurting.

Does he make eye contact with you? Does he like to cuddle with you? How is he about being touched? About frustration in general?

FranticFrummie

Sat, Sep 17 2016, 2:03 pm

Have him tested for allergies. Any sensitivity can cause behavior changes, especially in very young children.

Also, consider taking him to a homeopath. A gentle remedy may help balance his energies, and bring him to a calmer state.

5*Mom

Sat, Sep 17 2016, 2:14 pm

The first things I would look at are his diet and his sleep. Does he eat well? A balanced diet? Enough protein? Does he get enough quality sleep? Does he fall asleep quickly and stay asleep the whole night? Does he have nightmares or night terrors that interfere with his sleep? Does he wake by himself in the morning or is he awakened, either intentionally or unintentionally?

Does he have allergies, either food or environmental?

How long has this been going on? Have there been any big changes or transitions in his life? New sibling, new house, new daycare, other?

Sensory processing issues are a possibility but they will manifest in other ways in addition to interaction with others. A sensory seeker will bump and crash and climb and swing and spin and touch across many situations, even when people are not involved. A sensory avoider might display aggression due to anxiety in situations where he anticipates sensory input that he feels is threatening but he would also avoid or freak out about non-people related sensory stimulation such as spinning or swinging activities, labels in clothes, seams in socks...

amother

Aubergine

Sat, Sep 17 2016, 8:48 pm

I'm not a toddler....and when I'm exposed to certain chemicals such as cleaning products or detergents, my nervous system goes crazy and I become violent inside. I've learned to avoid social situations (most people wear clothes washed in chemical detergents) and keep my house free of chemical cleaners and detergents.

Said toddler is not by any chancee witnessing violence in the home?

amother

Emerald

Sun, Sep 18 2016, 12:14 am

amother wrote:

no time outs or consequences have shown any difference.

This! Toddlers can't be given time outs or consequences! It only makes things worse. I don't even tell my toddler the word "no". Instead, I show them the "yes"- what they can do.

(This is obviously assuming there isn't a deeper problem. But before jumping to get him evaluated, I would try this. )