Billy has been acting more aggressive lately. He is having trouble sharing and taking turns. You are concerned about his behavior and think it might be related to the fact that his mother just had a baby girl. What should you do?

Billy has been acting more aggressive lately. He is having trouble sharing and taking turns. You are concerned about his behavior and think it might be related to the fact that his mother just had a baby girl. What should you do?

• A. Ignore what you see
• B. Tell him to stop
• C. Share what you are seeing with his parents and discuss strategies for dealing with this big change and how you can support him at school
• D. Punish him

Answer: (C)

When a child is adjusting to a big family change, such as a new baby, he may act out because he’s feeling unsettled, which can show up as aggression or trouble sharing. The strongest approach is to partner with Billy’s parents, sharing what you’re observing and planning coordinated strategies to support him at home and at school. By communicating with the parents, you create consistency in expectations and responses, help identify triggers, and apply developmentally appropriate strategies that teach new skills and provide reassurance. At school, you can reinforce routines, offer calm-down moments, model and practice sharing, and use positive reinforcement for cooperative behavior, while also listening to parents about what helps him at home. Involve him in small, meaningful roles, give predictable transitions, and use simple language to name feelings and coping steps, celebrating progress along the way. This collaborative approach addresses the underlying needs and teaches social skills in a supportive environment, which is more effective than ignoring the behavior, simply telling him to stop, or punishing him.

When a child is adjusting to a big family change, such as a new baby, he may act out because he’s feeling unsettled, which can show up as aggression or trouble sharing. The strongest approach is to partner with Billy’s parents, sharing what you’re observing and planning coordinated strategies to support him at home and at school. By communicating with the parents, you create consistency in expectations and responses, help identify triggers, and apply developmentally appropriate strategies that teach new skills and provide reassurance. At school, you can reinforce routines, offer calm-down moments, model and practice sharing, and use positive reinforcement for cooperative behavior, while also listening to parents about what helps him at home. Involve him in small, meaningful roles, give predictable transitions, and use simple language to name feelings and coping steps, celebrating progress along the way. This collaborative approach addresses the underlying needs and teaches social skills in a supportive environment, which is more effective than ignoring the behavior, simply telling him to stop, or punishing him.