Parents are concerned that their child is showing aggressive behaviors. Which suggestion should the nurse make to the parents?

A) Supervise television viewing.
B) Ignore the behavior.
C) Punish the child for the behavior.
D) Accept the behavior if the child is male.

Television is also a significant source for modeling at this impressionable age. Research indicates there is a direct correlation between media exposure, both violent and educational media, and preschoolers exhibiting physical and relational aggression (Ostrov, Gentile, and Crick, 2006). Therefore, parents should be encouraged to supervise television viewing. The behavior should not be ignored because it can escalate to hyperaggression. The child should not be punished because it may reinforce the behavior if the child is seeking attention. For example, children who are ignored by a parent until they hit a sibling or the parent learn that this act garners attention. The behavior should not be accepted from a male child; this is using a "double standard" and aggression should not be equated with masculinity.