As more and more children attempt to take charge with their parents and As more and more senseless acts of violence capture our attention and break our hearts, we are confronted with the fact that aggression is on the rise, not only in the media, but also in our homes and schools. There are few behaviors more alienating than a child’s aggression, and as such, our instinctive responses often make things worse. To effectively deal with aggression, we must be able to look past the violating behaviors, understand the underlying emotions and instincts which fuel these behaviors, and see what is lacking in a child’s functioning and development that leads them to erupt in aggression when up against the inevitable frustrations and disappointments life has in store for all of us.

When we discover the keys to dealing with aggression, we are more equipped to help our children experience their frustration and anger in healthy and non-violating ways. This module of Village Matters will help you address aggression at the root of the problem so that you can create the conditions needed for your children to face life’s futilities and become changed by what they cannot change, thereby becoming resourceful and resilient human beings. The cultivation of these qualities in your children not only make life easier for everyone involved, they are also essential to overcoming adversity and finding creative solutions to problems, capacities that we all need now more than ever.