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