A dad recently asked for advice on how to deal with his 6-year-old son who has suddenly started behaving like a “certified pest”; fighting with his sisters, being messy, forgetful, losing things and generally being a pain in the neck.

Sudden changes in your son’s behaviour which are out of character are generally an indication that something is distressing him in some way. It could be that he is being bullied, that someone is behaving in an inappropriate way towards him, a volatile home environment or that something he has seen or heard has upset him.

Of course, you may want to first eliminate any potential medical causes by a simple doctor’s visit where you explain your concerns and the symptoms you are seeing. A good medical practitioner will advise on any assessments they deem appropriate.

If you are certain there is nothing medical going on here are a few tips to get to the bottom of it and help him get back to his normal self.

1. Know your child’s world. As a father get fully immersed in your child’s world.

Know their environment, the people they interact with, their teachers, school environment, what they watch, the games they play. Knowing their world will make you fully aware of anything he is being exposed to that may be harmful in any way.

2. Engage in fun, rough-and-tumble play.

Boys need this and most boys don’t get enough of it. It’s the best way for them to release their pent-up frustrations, learn how to use and manage their strength, grow in confidence and bond with you, their father and primary role model.

3. Spend time hanging out and engaging with your son.

There is no substitute for simply being together and doing stuff. One of the greatest benefits is that you will get in tune with him and will be able to immediately pick up if al is not well with him. You’ll quickly notice a shift in is sense of peace and well-being and will be in a position to act quickly. Some boys misbehave just to get attention. For them even being punished is better than being ignored.

4. Finally, help him with his emotional literacy.

Children (especially boys) often struggle to understand and articulate their feelings. By engaging in patient, empathetic dialogues with your child you will assist him to get in touch with his feelings, put them into words, validate the way he is feeling and help him process them. This is a great gift and goes a long way towards raising a son who is emotionally whole with a good EQ.