| It is not unusual for a child to be difficult and challenging | | | | behavior may increase his predisposition for this |
| at age two but when bad behavior persists, it can be | | | | disorder later on. Some children tend to be |
| a sign of oppositional defiant disorder. This condition is | | | | argumentative or difficult when they think that they're |
| characterized by a persistent pattern of disruptive | | | | not getting enough time and attention from their |
| behavior, tantrums and an argumentative stance | | | | parents. Family instability and other environmental |
| towards authority figures. Statistics show that one in | | | | conditions may also aggravate oppositional defiant |
| ten children are suffering or have suffered from | | | | disorder. |
| oppositional defiant disorder at least once in their | | | | Treatment |
| lifetime. | | | | Treatment usually entails a look into your current |
| Oppositional defiant disorder treatment mainly involves | | | | parenting methods. You will need to work on certain |
| behavioral modification therapy. In some cases, | | | | parenting skills that will help your child improve his |
| however, medications may also be prescribed when | | | | behavior without alienating him. |
| the condition is diagnosed as a mental health issue. | | | | A good way to start with oppositional defiant disorder |
| There are many things that you can do to manage | | | | treatment is by practicing patience and learning how to |
| your child's behavior and there are also a lot of people | | | | remain calm especially when confronted with a |
| who can help. Doctors, child development experts and | | | | situation that would normally trigger a temper tantrum. |
| health care professionals can provide with strategies | | | | The thing with oppositional defiant disorder is that |
| to address the issue. | | | | negative behavior is aggravated when you confront |
| Symptoms | | | | the child head-on about his behavior. At some point, |
| For the most part, it's difficult to recognize the | | | | you'll have to learn how to compromise, establishing |
| difference between a child who has oppositional | | | | choices so your child feels that he still has some |
| defiant disorder and one that is just naturally emotional | | | | control over what he does. You will also need to be |
| or strong-willed. Independence-seeking behavior is | | | | consistent with how you handle negative behavior, |
| normal for children throughout their development, | | | | making sure that timeouts and other consequences of |
| particularly when they are two and then again during | | | | poor actions are those that last for a limited period so |
| the teen years. One way to find out if you're looking at | | | | they are easier to reinforce. |
| a real disorder is by observing the frequency of the | | | | While it's a good idea to consult your family doctor or |
| negative behaviors. If the child's difficult behavior is | | | | a counselor about handling this disorder, for some |
| persistent, that is, it lasts for six months or longer and if | | | | families it may be better to get an at-home behavioral |
| he is already causing disruptions at home or in school, | | | | modification program designed specifically for |
| you may need to find a treatment that will work for | | | | oppositional defiant disorder. These programs teach |
| your family. | | | | parents effective skills so they can better manage |
| A child has oppositional defiant disorder when he | | | | their children and help them to make permanent |
| consistently defies authority figures; he disobeys rules, | | | | changes in their behavior. With a good behavioral |
| has frequent temper tantrums, and is easily annoyed. | | | | program, both you and your child will get to learn |
| He may also have a tendency to do badly in school, | | | | something which will deepen your bond. |
| blame others for his misbehavior, and be | | | | Office visits to a therapist are not for everyone. While |
| argumentative with the adults around him. | | | | some families appreciate the personal care, others |
| Cause | | | | prefer not to have strangers probing the intricacies of |
| There really is no definite cause for oppositional defiant | | | | their private lives. Others get tired of trying to drag |
| disorder which goes to show that it can happen in any | | | | reluctant kids to the therapist's office. |
| family. Experts, however, have come up with certain | | | | Whichever treatment course you take, remember that |
| factors that may contribute to this condition. For | | | | oppositional defiant disorder is just an obstacle and |
| instance, parenting style can adversely affect child | | | | selecting a good behavioral modification program will |
| behavior. How you respond to your child's negative | | | | help you overcome this parenting challenge. |