Psychologist gives ‘silent aggression’ warning Urges parents to watch for changes in children’s behaviour

Aggression in children can be “simmering” long before it erupts into physical violence, a child psychologist has warned, urging parents to pay closer attention to subtle changes in behaviour as students return to classrooms.

Dr Orlene Brown-Earle said adults often look for obvious signs such as fighting or verbal outbursts and may consequently overlook less conspicuous changes that could signal a child is struggling.

“But it might be that it is passive aggression. It just seems like they are sulking and they are not cooperative,” she said. Her warning comes as the recent killing of a 13-year-old student in St James, in a case involving another 13-year-old, remains fresh in the minds of parents. The incident has raised wider questions about conflict among young people and what parents and educators can recognise before troubling behaviour escalates.