Just days after children carried out a protest march against gun violence in the U.S., a nine-year-old brother shoots sister, 13, over an alleged video game fight.
The shocking incident reportedly took place in Mississippi on Saturday, when the girl refused to share a video game controller with her brother.
Brother shoots sister for a video game!
Enraged, the boy then opened fire, striking his sister's head. The bullet pierced her skull and went straight into her brain. At the time of the incident, their mother was in another room of the house, feeding lunch to her other children.
As soon as she heard the gunshot, she rushed out and called the police. The officers responded at 1pm and took the girl to a nearby hospital.
Cecil Cantrell, Monroe County Sheriff, Mississippi, told reporters that the girl was immediately rushed to Le Bonheur's Children's Hospital in Memphis. But she unfortunately succumbed to her injuries.
While it is clear that the brother shot his sister, authorities are unclear as to how he accessed a .25 calibre handgun. The bizarre nature of the incident also shocked the authorities.
"He’s just nine. I assume he’s seen this on video games or TV," Cantrell told BBC. He added that he wasn't sure if the boy knew "exactly what this would do."
Police shocked as brother shoots sister in Mississippi
The Sheriff also added that this was all "new ground" for them.
"We've never dealt with a kid shooting a kid at age nine. We don't know yet what kind of charges or if charges will be pressed. We want to make sure we’re doing everything correctly," he said.
"That’s why I’m not too fast to say anything because there are juveniles involved. We want to do what’s right and we’re going to get it right," added Cantrell.
While investigations continue, this incident has become a tipping point in the debate of anger management in kids (let's leave the gun control argument for another day).
Studies show uncontrollable anger among young kids
A study by Harvard Medical School proved that nearly "one in 12 adolescents — close to six million young people" experienced anger attacks.
The researchers also found that if left untreated, such attacks can amount to "future violence perpetration and associated psychopathology."
Unfortunately, due to hectic schedules and busy lifestyles, many parents are unable to identify anger management problems in their kids. In addition, they are also unable to resolve them at home.
In fact, plenty of parents discourage their kids from expressing anger. They punish or scold them for expressing their feelings. But what most parents fail to understand is that there isn’t anything wrong with anger in itself.
Getting angry is normal. It’s a valid emotion that, when handled correctly, can actually be productive. So how can parents manage their child's anger?
5 ways to deal with a child's anger issues
Here are some tips to help you deal with your child's anger management issues.
1. Do not fight fire with fire
As mentioned in our previous article, it’s easier to respond to anger with more anger. But doing so will only make the situation worse. Instead, you should remain calm and talk to them in an even tone so as to calm them in turn.
2. Spend time with them
Instead of grounding your angry child in his room, stay with him and talk it out. Ask him to explain what makes him so angry. This will not only help you understand the situation, but also allow them to process their anger and calm down.
3. Lead by example
You cannot expect your kids to manage their anger properly if you can’t do so yourself. First learn to regulate your own anger, so that you can teach them to do so as well.
4. Lend comfort and affection
Your child's "abnormal" behavior might be because he feels left out. So let them know that you care about them with a hug. You must also lend some reassuring words as you talk things out.
5. Reward good behaviour
Don't leave good behaviour unrewarded. When you notice your child dealing with his anger in a positive way, encourage and praise him. This will help him be on his best behavior in the future because he knows it gets him praise.
Sources: BBC, Channel News Asia, USA Today
ALSO READ: 8 steps to teaching children to think before they act
Republished with permission from: theAsianParent Singapore