What Are the Causes of Bad Behavior in a Child?

No child is perfect and they all misbehave sometime. At times misbehavior is on purpose, such as lying or stealing, and at times misbehavior is accidental, such as loudly talking in a movie theater. Children misbehave for several different reasons. Figuring out the reason behind the behavior helps a parent correctly address the situation.

Pressure

• Some children misbehave due to the amount of pressure they feel to perform a certain way, such as doing well in school or excelling at sports. If the child feels this pressure but is not sure he or she can perform up to standards, the stressful situation will result in acting out.

Inexperience

• Often a child's misbehavior is a simple result of the child's inexperience. Children act spontaneously and do not generally consider actions or consequences, as they do not have the life experience and knowledge to do so.

Frustration

• Misbehavior can be a result of a child's frustration or anger. At times a child might live in a less than ideal situation or experience bullying from other children. Feeling insecure and unstable will cause a child to misbehave.