You have no idea what happened. One day, your sweet little toddler began  kicking, striking or biting out of nowhere. Where did this disturbing behavior come from, and what are you going to do about it? First and foremost, don’t panic. Toddler aggression is completely normal. “At roughly two years of age, many toddlers demonstrate violent behavior mostly out of frustration: their want to achieve things is greater than their capacity,” explains Dr. William Sears. They seek to communicate their desires and needs, but their vocabulary is restricted.” Now that you understand why your toddler is suddenly acting aggressively, here are some clear ways to help you teach your toddler that aggressive behavior is not good.

1. Be an example

Children copy what they see, therefore it is vital that you regulate your anger and measure your emotions. If you use aggressive force or language, your child will learn to respond in this manner when he or she is upset. Furthermore, this type of parental body language is frightening.

2. Establish Clear Expectations

When dealing with aggressive behavior, it is critical to establish clear expectations. For example, your child should be taught that biting is not acceptable. You must define the if/then rule in order for this rule to work. “We will leave playgroup if you bite or hit your pals,” for example. These rules and expectations will vary depending on the behavior and age of the child, but the key is to be consistent.

3. Explain Appropriate and Inappropriate Behavior

You should teach your children to distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate actions in the same way that you teach “good touch/bad touch.” Gentle hugs, for example, are appropriate, but hard shoves are not. Give your toddler a variety of examples that show the difference between how we should and should not treat others.

4. Take your child out of the situation.

It is entirely appropriate to remove your youngster from the situation if he or she becomes aggressive. For example, if your child is aggressive toward another child, you should remove your child from the situation. It might be as simple as relocating your child away from the other children, taking a timeout, or leaving entirely.

5. Give examples of other approaches to dealing with triggers.

According to Dr Sears, toddlers are frequently violent because they are frustrated. Try to educate on your child alternate methods to deal with irritation or rage as a parent. One example is teaching your child to take deep breaths. Start teaching your child keywords that he or she can use to express feelings or needs. Then, explain that we use words rather than our bodies to achieve our goals.

6. Show Your Feelings

As parents, it is our responsibility to ensure that our children feel safe and cherished. When your child gets physically aggressive, attempt to offer compassion and grace to him or her. Remind your youngster that you love him or her, but that we do not injure those we love.

Finally, teach your child with your words, not your hands. Then, insist on your child expressing his or her emotions in the same manner.