Teach accountability

Children should learn that their actions have consequences. For example, if your child breaks a friend's pencil, you should encourage him to give his friend his own pencil to make up for it.

Ms von Auer said: 'Older children care about others' opinions and judgments of them, which is why typical children (without pathologies) will know that hurt, pain and death can be permanent and that if they inflict it on others out of viciousness, it is unacceptable.

'Typical children will show remorse, feel guilt and learn from their mistakes while children with disorders that may cause deviant behaviours may not.'

This article was first published in Mind Your Body, The Straits Times.