| All kids misbehave some times, but behavior | | | | How are his grades, how is his attention span? What |
| disorders go beyond mischief and rebellion. With | | | | is he like at home? Is he open and friendly with |
| behavior disorders, your child or teen has a pattern | | | | everyone, or has he isolated himself from others as |
| of hostile, aggressive or disruptive behaviors for | | | | well as being angry? There are alot of other changes |
| more than 6 months. Normal behavior in children | | | | that can occur that will give you clues as to wether |
| depends on the child's age, personality, and physical | | | | or not it something serious. |
| and emotional development. A child's behavior may | | | | Has his eating habits changed? Do you and your wife |
| be a problem if it doesn't match the expectations of | | | | belong to any of the learning disabilities associations? |
| the family or if it is disruptive. If you see signs of a | | | | There are parent support groups for kids of various |
| problem, ask for help. Poor choices can become | | | | ages, maybe you need to talk with parents who |
| habits. Kids who have behavior problems are at | | | | have gone through this with their teens and they |
| higher risk for school failure, mental health problems | | | | have some stratagies they can offer. |
| and even suicide. Classes or family therapy may help | | | | Perhaps you need to go with him and talk to his |
| parents learn to set and enforce limits. | | | | pediatrician or family doctor about the pills and why |
| From the different studies carried out by experts on | | | | he's hiding them or not taking them. Maybe they |
| child psychiatry, two important strategies for | | | | have an adverse effect on him that only he's aware |
| studying development include the longitudinal study in | | | | of. |
| which a particular group of children is studied over a | | | | Next maybe he needs to repeat the grade he's in. |
| long period of time, sometimes from infancy through | | | | Holding kids back when they're in this kind of |
| adulthood. The second method, which is more popular | | | | emotional upset may be in the long run beneficial to |
| because it is less expensive, is called the | | | | him. Explain it like a ball player being sent to the |
| cross-sectional method. In this strategy a group of | | | | minors to hone his skills more, then he can come |
| children or adolescents at a particular age are studied | | | | back to the big leagues. |
| at that age. In order to compare different ages, | | | | Rewarding child when they do something good |
| different samples would be studied but no group | | | | Ask the child to do a task. Set a timer. If the task is |
| would be studied over time. | | | | done before the timer rings, your child gets a reward. |
| Parents may choose to use physical punishment | | | | Write a short list of good behaviors on a chart and |
| (such as spanking) to stop undesirable behavior. The | | | | mark the chart with a star each time you see the |
| biggest drawback to this method is that although the | | | | good behavior. After your child has earned a small |
| punishment stops the bad behavior for a while, it | | | | number of stars (depending on the child's age), give |
| doesn't teach your child to change his or her | | | | him or her a reward. |
| behavior. Disciplining your child is really just teaching | | | | In a short time (about an hour) put a mark on a |
| him or her to choose good behaviors. | | | | chart or on your child's hand each time you see him |
| Questions to ask while studying child behaviour and | | | | or her performing a good behavior. For example, if |
| psychiatry | | | | you see your child playing quietly, solving a problem |
| Have there been any abrupt changes in his life? A | | | | without fighting, picking up toys or reading a book, |
| move or something like that? | | | | you would mark the chart. After a certain number of |
| Ask him first to find out the reason behind the anger, | | | | marks, give your child a reward. |
| talk to the teacher and ask if there is anything you | | | | Ask your child to play quietly alone or with a sibling |
| and she can do together to help your son find some | | | | for a short time (maybe 30 minutes). Check on your |
| different outlets for his anger. Anger many times | | | | child frequently (every 2 to 5 minutes, depending on |
| stems from underlying issues that he may be afraid | | | | the child's age) and give a reward or a token for |
| to talk about. | | | | each few minutes they were quiet or playing well. |