The Physically & Verbally Aggressive Child

The Physically & Verbally Aggressive Child
by Michele Grant

Your centre staff has been working with a single parent whose child is displaying physically and verbally aggressive behaviour towards staff and children at the centre. Although there has been some progress, it is difficult for others to see. One day a father of two other children in your care demands that you remove the aggressive child or he will withdraw his two children.

What is your reaction? How do you respond to this father? Do you have a centre policy that addresses “tolerance” the way many of the public schools do? What is your commitment to the special needs of the other family? Who would care for the child if s/he were withdrawn from the centre? What is your commitment to the safe care of the other children at the centre? How will the centre be affected financially? Are there other parents who feel the same way? What are the needs of all the parents? How might your decision affect your future enrolment? How are staff feeling about the aggressive behaviours, and their handling of the situations? How will they be affected? Do you need to consider regulations that will guide your decision?

It may be easier for staff to have a less challenging child in the centre; however, ethical choices are not about easy decisions. When you take a closer look at the Code of Ethics, you will find conflict within a number of principles. Number two conflicts with itself when considering the needs of the children. You have a responsibility to provide an environment where all children can develop to their full potential, which includes a child who may require additional support in the social and emotional areas of development.

If you are worried about the healthy development and safety of the other children, number one will conflict with two. If you are concerned with how staff will respect the “uniqueness” of the child, number six may also be in conflict with one or three. How can you work in partnership with one parent, as in number four, and reassure others that you are doing the same for them?

If you have a concern with the staff and what your decision will say to the employees about their professional competence you may be considering number seven and how it conflicts with number one or four, working with the father who wants the child removed.

What you ultimately choose to do may be dependent on the input you receive from other staff and from your parent board. Focus on the values that are primary for you. Consider the issues and how they will affect each of the stakeholders. Broadly think about all the alternatives to this conflict and the consequences each has to the people involved. As a professional you are to “demonstrate integrity in your relationships.”

Talk this through. Discuss it with other colleagues. What is your best choice?

Michele Grant is a college instructor, who volunteers many hours with early childhood organizations. She is an ethics trainer with the Manitoba Child Care Association and is an affiliate representative on the CCCF member council.
“Ethics Corner” is a regular Interaction column devoted to ethics in child care. Thanks to the Manitoba Child Care Association ethics committee, which provides the dilemma.

Interaction, Vol. 15, No. 4, Winter 2002, p. 16