What is the best explanation for a 2½-year-old child who's started exhibiting aggressive behavior after the death of a sibling?

The situation described reflects a typical response to anxiety within the household, particularly following a significant trauma like the death of a sibling. At 2½ years old, children are beginning to understand their environment and the emotions of those around them, even though they may not fully grasp the concept of death. The loss of a sibling can lead to heightened anxiety and feelings of insecurity, which can manifest in behaviors such as aggression.

When a child is faced with such a distressing event, they may struggle to express their emotions verbally, leading to aggressive behaviors as a form of communication. This response can be seen as a coping mechanism through which the child expresses frustration, fear, or confusion about the changes in their family dynamics. Understanding that this behavior is a natural and appropriate reaction to an anxiety-inducing situation provides insight into the emotional landscape of the child, allowing caregivers to address the underlying feelings rather than solely the behaviors.

In this context, while attention-seeking or developmental phases can influence behavior, they do not directly relate to the profound impact of grieving a loss. The aggressive behavior in this case is more appropriately viewed as an expression of the child's emotional turmoil from the changes in their environment and family structure.