My child is acting out, especially in school. I was wondering if PMT might help us with his behaviors and if it would carryover to school. He is 3.10 and a social worker friend was wondering if maybe he has Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Thanks for any input.
I’m a psychologist and do Parent Management Training (or other things like it) with folks often. It involves, primarily, working with the parents to develop a system for reducing a child’s negative behaviors and increasing their positive ones. The main thing is to set up consequences for a child’s behavior and BE CONSISTENT! The way I do it, I start off having parents monitor whatever behaviors (e.g. tantrums, talking back, hitting, etc) they want to decrease–just to have a baseline of how often the behavior is occurring. Then parents and I develop consequences for behaviors and begin implementing them. Once negative behaviors begin to decrease, we begin rewarding behaviors (sitting quietly, doing what they are told the first time, helping, etc) we want to increase. The main thing about Parent Management Training is that it is really about the parents–not the kids. It is training parents to mold their child’s behavior by changing the way they react to their child’s misbehavior. If the parent isn’t willing to put in the effort required for things like charting behavior and being consistent (even when you’re tired or it’s inconvenient!), then it’s not going to take. Good luck

Tweet This Post

Technorati Tags: Child Behaviour Problems, Childrens Behavior, Kids Behaviour, Toddler Behavior

They are eight and ten year old boys. I am having a hard time being consistent. The specific behaviors I need reasonable consequences for are hitting, name calling, tattling and talking back. I also have a small baby, and am a bit overwhelmed. Therefore I end up handling each situation differently. It is not working. Please help!!!
Consistency is the key. Consistency and firmness. Don’t back down and don’t give in. Don’t say things you aren’t ready to follow up on. Also, the consequences have to be immediate. When they talk back, DO NOT try to explain or reason with them. Simply refuse to accept or listen to the disrepect. Whatever led up to it is immediately over. They have to know they have crossed the line. This is the most important issue to deal with because the others stem from this feeling that they are equal in authority to you. Also, choose your battles. Don’t try to mediate something you haven’t been witness to. Tell them they need to sort things out themselves or seperate them. For one thing, when they tattle they are trying to get your attention. With the new baby, they are feeling threatened. If you give them this kind of attention, they will keep trying to get it. Instead, when they are behaving nicely, cuddle them. They aren’t too old. They may push you away, but they will be smiling inside when they do. When the hitting and name-calling take place in your presence, deal with it immediately. Some consequences can be to remove a privilege or assign a chore. If they have TVs or games in their rooms, remove them. The next time they ask for a new toy or privilege, remind them of their behavior and say no. They should have to earn privileges and such. Don’t indulge them. Remember too, that this is all normal behavior. You are doing a good job that you are concerned and asking the questions. But you are under a lot of stress with the new baby and two young boys in the house. They may be sensing that as well. If you came from my background, laying on the guilt would work. “Big boys of 8 and 10 should be helping mom out when she has a new baby, not making life more difficult for her.”

Tweet This Post

Technorati Tags: Child Behaviour Problems, Childrens Behavior, Kids Behaviour, Toddler Behavior

I readed an nice article from Rod Galloway (the New Zealand Foundation for Character Education and a Dunedin principal). This was all about self-control key to learning.

This article was written earlier this month and it was revealed that recent Ministry of Education statistics on disruptive behaviour demonstrate a cause for concern in our primary schools. Rod Galloway suggests Character Eduction provides an answer.

A class photo taken recently at our school captures the teacher with a rather strained look.

Standing beside her was a 6-year-old who wouldn’t even look at the camera, let alone smile. Moments earlier, a simple instruction to move into rows and face the camera had become the catalyst for a major confrontation.

Without warning, the 6-year-old suddenly declared he was not taking part.

An experienced and understanding teacher reasoned with the boy to join the class.

This confrontation with a strong-willed and defiant child led to the teacher being physically struck.

While she was trying to restrain and calm the boy, he spat in her face. Clearly, this is not the behaviour we expect, experience often or tolerate. Nor was it the photo opportunity we had been hoping for.

This is a short extraction of the press release from Rod Galloway on Self control and behavior.

To read the full article on child behaviour problems and self control click here

Tweet This Post

Technorati Tags: Child Behaviour Problems, Childrens Behavior, Kids Behaviour, Toddler Behavior

It is reported that most ADHD cases in children develop before the age of 7, but the diagnosis comes only when there are problems in their development. For instance, parents or other relatives notice symptoms of ADHD in a child only when he/she exhibits a behavior which is inappropriate in attention or the child shows disability to keep track of his/her belongings.

Read the full story here about child behaviour problems and ADHD

Tweet This Post

Technorati Tags: Child Behaviour Problems, Childrens Behavior, Kids Behaviour, Toddler Behavior