Articles

Children with ADHD—How to Recognize the Early Warning Signs of ADHD

Sunday, January 1st, 2006 You will know your child is difficult before he is two years old, especially if you have other children.  He exhausts you.  He cannot sit still, does not listen to instructions, and gets in trouble constantly.  A former foster mother of 36 children with severe ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) said, “These kids make your eyeballs tired.”If your child has behavior problems, it is hard to know what to do next. You may be reluctant to get him assessed right away because you still have questions. What if he just has a lot of energy?  What is normal behavior anyway? Typical Milestones of Children without Child Behavior ProblemsAt three years old—he can initiate play activities and he enjoys playing with...

Parenting Angry Children—Seven Easy Ways to Transform from Reactive to Respected Parent

Sunday, January 1st, 2006 Children with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), ODD (oppositional defiant disorder), bipolar, autism, Asperger’s syndrome, and PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified), can be very difficult. If your child has one of these conditions, he may try to push your buttons so you lose control and he wins. The only way out of this gridlock is to develop some refusal tactics of your own.Adopt these winning tactics that soothe your child and elevate your parenting style:1. Refuse to argue. Your child’s first line of defense (and distraction from the real issue at hand) is to start an argument. Counter his defensive tactic with your calm logic.For example, if you child doesn’t want to do the dishes, he may...

Parenting: Challenging Child Warning Signs That May Lead to ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder)

Sunday, January 1st, 2006 If your child has ODD (oppositional defiant disorder) or bipolar, you’re familiar with child behavior problems. If your child has signs of autism, ADHD or ADD (attention deficit disorder), Aspergers, or PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified), you may be seeing challenging behaviors. Five Warning Signs of Challenging Child Behavior If you suspect that your child’s difficult behavior is something more than just being a kid, these are the warning signs of a full-fledged challenging child. 1. Refuses to look up into your eyes. This is one of the early signs that your parent-child relationship is in trouble. He refuses to look up into your eyes because that gives you power. He doesn't trust you enough to...

Parenting Difficult Children—Why You’re Stuck

Sunday, January 1st, 2006 Are you struggling with your child’s signs of autism, ADD or ADHD (attention deficit disorder), ODD (oppositional defiant disorder), bipolar, Aspergers, and PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified)? You and your child are probably frustrated because so many things haven’t worked. You’re likely worried about your child’s future, and yours. If your child is very angry and defiant and is constantly challenging your every word, you’re exhausted and hurt, perhaps even angry, because parenting shouldn’t be so hard. Here’s the good news. Although your child behavior problems may seem complicated, the solutions are quite simple. Here’s Why You’re Stuck Built into your child’s condition is a parent-child relationship destroyer that you can’t stop until you understand your child’s...

Children’s Behavior Problems: What Is ODD and How to Know If Your Child Has It

Sunday, January 1st, 2006 ADHD alone is difficult to deal with, but ADHD comorbid (or combined) with ODD (oppositional defiant disorder) creates chaos. If your child periodically talks back defiantly, slams doors, acts stubborn, and blows up but has some control to calm himself down, feel remorse, and accept consoling and logical explanations, he does not have ODD. What is ODD? If your child is hot-headed, gets angry frequently, loses his temper, is spiteful and vindictive, deliberately annoys people around him (at home and school alike), argues with adults, defies you, and refuses to carry out rules and adults' requests, be forewarned. If he is easily annoyed by others and overreacts to remarks by others, but never owns up to his mistakes because they...

Parenting Children with ADHD—Your Child’s Future

Sunday, January 1st, 2006 Your child has ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). He is impulsive, hyperactive, and temperamental because he does not have the frontal lobe ability to monitor his behavior. He has low self-esteem because he is being corrected all day long. He has ODD (oppositional defiant disorder) because he thinks he is never wrong. He does not trust or respect adults. He is obnoxious, unhappy, rejected, and out of control—all the makings of a social outcast. It has been said that a child with ADHD operates like a speeding car without the brakes. Remember this metaphor by heart. There are several ways to stop a car without brakes. It is your job to help your child find those ways unique to him...