Positive parenting emphasizes the importance of building a strong relationship with your child. It can help parents develop strong emotional bonds with their children through sensitive, responsible, and consistent parenting. This connection between children and their caregivers is called “secure attachment.”
Parenting with Natural and Logical Consequences is a parenting philosophy that helps caregivers create a safe and supportive environment for children. By using this style of parenting, parents teach their children how to think logically about consequences rather than resorting to punishment which could lead to teen behavior problems in the future.
Natural consequences are the result of a child’s actions. The child must know they are responsible for their own choices and the natural consequences that could follow. Here’s an example: Mom has repeatedly suggested that Jake take his rain jacket to school because there was a chance of rain. Jake’s choice was not to bring a rain jacket to school. The natural consequence is that mom did not force Jake to take his jacket, and he got wet when it rained.
People often use the terms “discipline” and “punishment” interchangeably. However, there is a huge difference between the two terms. Punishment is ineffective because it does not offer children an opportunity for learning or constructive feedback. On the other hand, discipline teaches kids what they did wrong and helps them understand why their behavior was unacceptable.
For example, punishment tries to change kids’ future behavior by making them “pay for their mistakes.” Discipline aims to change future behavior by helping kids learn from their mistakes.
Let’s say that Michael rode his bike in the middle of the road even though he was told not to. The punishment for his behavior is to do his brother’s chores for a week in addition to his own. But if you use positive discipline, you point out that it was his choice not to follow the rules, therefore he is not allowed to ride his bike for the rest of the day.
The most common symptoms of ADHD include impulsivity, inattention, and hyperactivity. Some of the signs are talking excessively or constantly moving about when one should be sitting still for an extended period. Other indications may be a child having trouble with school because they cannot stay focused on assignments or having trouble with social interactions because they cannot stay on topic.
The best treatment for ADHD is a combination of medication and behavior management strategies. The drugs most commonly prescribed for ADHD are stimulants such as Adderall or Ritalin and non-stimulant medications like Strattera or Intuniv. There can be side effects with the use of these medicines, so they should only be prescribed by a medical professional.
ODD is a disorder that typically starts during childhood and lasts into early adulthood. Children with ODD may often want to get their way, are spiteful or argumentative when they do not and have temper tantrums. They are also very critical of others.
The difference between normal oppositional behavior and ODD is how severe it is and how long it has been going on. For instance, a child suffering from ODD will show severe behavioral issues for at least six months.
Some of the most common signs and symptoms include:
Treatment for ODD typically includes:
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that affects language and communication, social skills, and behavior. Children with ASD may behave, communicate, interact, and learn differently than other children. The term “spectrum” refers to the wide range of symptoms and severity.
The signs and symptoms of a child with ASD depend on the age and ability to communicate. Some people show symptoms as early as 18 months, while others might not have any until they start school or interact more in a group setting.
Here are the most common signs and symptoms:
There are many treatment options for children with ASD. A doctor may prescribe medication to treat some of the symptoms. People with ASD may be referred to doctors who specialize in behavior management strategies. There is no one perfect treatment; instead, different treatments work better than others depending on the person and the symptoms.
Conduct disorders are a behavioral problem that involves aggression and law-breaking tendencies. Children with conduct disorder may hit, bite, or kick people, threaten them in words or gestures, destroy property, and bully other kids or younger siblings, among other things. Conduct disorders are diagnosed only when a child’s behavior is extreme enough to cause emotional problems for others. A diagnosis cannot be made until children are at least four years old.
Researchers believe that children with conduct disorders are more likely to have experienced early exposure to violence in their own homes, as well as other adverse childhood experiences such as neglect and abuse.
To diagnose conduct disorders, four telltale symptoms must be present:
The child’s behavior must be noticeably different from peers, and the symptoms cannot occur exclusively during a manic episode of bipolar disorder or major depressive episodes of depression. The diagnosis is made by asking about childhood history as well as interviewing parents, teachers, and other caregivers for information about current behaviors and symptoms.
Treatment for conduct disorders in teens can include behavior management strategies, parent management training to teach parents how to manage their child’s behavior, help from social service professionals, medication, or other treatment.
Caring for children with intense needs can take a toll on parents’ emotional and physical health. Parenting is challenging, even in the best of circumstances. Parenting adolescent behavior problems is a full-time job and an overwhelming one.
Addressing the emotional and physical risks of child care is critical, both for the child’s and parents’ sake. If parents of children with severe behavioral issues are not paying attention to their emotional and physical health, they risk being affected by caregiver burnout which can negatively impact the entire family in the long term.
Another great tip is respite care. Respite care is a form of service that allows caregivers to take time away from caregiving to recharge and stay healthy. It may be short-term or long-term. Respite can provide relief, support, stability, continuity, companionship, and other benefits which help families caring for children with intense needs live fuller lives. A variety of organizations provide respite services, such as home health agencies or hospitals.
Routines are crucial for children with intense needs. These children may have difficulties regulating themselves and maintaining their focus when there are many distractions. Routines can minimize the unexpected and reduce the risk of frustrating the child.
Make a list of daily responsibilities with your child. Break down each responsibility into smaller steps and decide how much time they can spend on each task. Consider scheduling breaks and other activities your child might want to do. Make sure you schedule activities for the same time every day, so it is easier for them to remember.
Children with intense needs are not always able to cope with the extreme and unexpected demands of the pandemic. As a result, they may resort to self-stimulations to manage stress.
Here are some things parents can do to deal with their child’s self-stimulation:
Research shows that children who come from harsh parenting homes are more likely to develop conduct disorders. Children with severe behavioral issues tend to be aggressive, destructive, and inattentive. Other common symptoms include fighting at school, stealing, lying, or using drugs. When parents use physical punishment to punish such behaviors (rather than teaching the child right from wrong), they contribute to these issues.
The presence of an authoritative figure in a child’s life can have negative consequences if they are harsh and punitive. This may be because, without good social support, children who grow up with such parents often feel isolated from their peers and society as a whole. Furthermore, not being accepted by peers is a risk factor for the development of conduct disorder.
