Causes Of Children's Habits Of Beating Himself

Illustration (Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels)

JAKARTA - Does your child often hit himself and bang his head? This action is known as self-injurious behavior (SIB). While this behavior can be worrying for parents, it turns out to be usually a developmental phase or a way for a child to express emotions. If you watch closely, your little one may hurt himself when he gets angry or wants to be heard.

Studies have found that 15% of young children exhibit SIB during the early years of development. If SIB persists and causes significant harm to the child's body and health, consult a pediatrician as persistent and chronic SIB is associated with developmental delays in children.

Why do children like to spank themselves?

During toddlerhood, children become aware of their surroundings and begin to explore the world around them. They will also learn to communicate their wants and needs.

However, they may not have the full capacity to make things happen or communicate their desires verbally. These limitations combined with challenges in understanding the world can lead to anger and frustration, making children more likely to beat themselves up as an outlet.

Launching the Herstory page, Sunday, August 15, research has found that children exhibit such behavior when they are tired, lonely, or upset. Babies are also known to bang their heads before going to sleep.

Sometimes, children also hit themselves or bang their heads because they feel very happy. This may seem serious, but it's normal for toddlers to express strong emotions in different ways.

Such actions are similar to how adults clap or jump for joy. Adults already know how to express joy, while babies still don't understand it, so they do what they like.

Therefore, parents must be able to communicate well with their children. If parents don't know why their toddler is self-harming, parents should observe the child while comforting him in a soothing voice and while lovingly touching or hugging them.