Dealing with Destructive behavior

Shattered dishes, drawings on the wall, broken toys - all of these are common sights in any house where a toddler lives. Nearly all toddlers will exhibit destructive behavior at some point during their early developmental years. Toddlers may resort to destructive behavior for a number of reasons, including curiosity, boredom, or frustration. No matter what is causing your toddler to act in a destructive manner, it is important that he learn that this type of behavior is inappropriate and unacceptable.

If your toddler has been acting in a destructive manner, try these simple suggestions to help curb this undesirable behavior:

• Give your toddler non-destructive options -If your toddler is happily drawing on your kitchen wall with crayons, offer him other creative outlets. Give him large sheets of paper to use as his canvas, or work together on one of the many fun craft projects found in our Fun and Games section.

• Ask your toddler questions - Toddlers may resort to destructive behavior for a variety of reasons. If your little one has just turned over a potted plant on your new carpet, ask him why he did it. Was he feeling angry, bored, or just curious to see what would happen when he turned the pot upside down?

• Teach him that destructive can be dangerous - A curious toddler may drop a plate on the floor to see what happens when it breaks. Not only is this destructive, but it is dangerous, as well. Explain to your toddler that pieces of the broken plate may cut him if he touches them.

• Involve your toddler in the clean up process - If your toddler has made a mess shredding magazines on your living room floor, have him help you clean it up. When he realizes that having to clean up is a consequence of his destructiveness, he will hopefully find less messy ways to relieve his boredom.

• Offer him plenty of praise - When you see your toddler acting in non-destructive ways or cleaning up his own mess, be sure to praise him. This will help encourage him to act in a less destructive manner and be more responsible for his actions.

• Be a good role model -Let your toddler see you taking care of your belongings and keeping them in a neat and orderly fashion. Let him help you fold and put away clothes instead of leaving them in a pile, for example. This will help teach him useful skills and help him learn to better appreciate his possessions, as well.

Destructive behavior is quite common in toddlers, but there are steps you can take to help your little one control his urges to create a mess. If you offer your toddler non-destructive options and teach him that there are consequences for his destructive acts, he will hopefully learn to channel his energies in a more positive manner.