Solving Children's Behavior Problems New York NY

Each child’s social development occurs in his/her own time. It is thought that girls may develop social skills earlier than boys. Expecting behavior that is beyond what is typical for a child’s age can lead to problems or aggravate them. Picking up a book on what to expect from a child at each step in childhood is one way to minimize behavior problems. For instance, children below the age of two generally have not developed sufficiently to work on an assigned task for more than a few minutes; at the same time, they may spend many minutes on a task of their own choosing. Children below the age of five have little or no understanding of even short term consequences. Promising very young children rewards that are significantly in the future will often not be successful.

In addition to books parents must also be aware of each child’s personality. We are all born with certain traits. Forcing a child who is naturally gregarious and talkative to be quiet all the time will probably have unsatisfactory results; instead, reward a talker when he/she talks less. In contrast, expecting a shy child to be a leader in a large group of children may lead to disappointment. Try instead to find leadership opportunities for a child in smaller groups or ways for the child to shine on his/her own.

Discovering a child’s personality and being aware of signposts of social development may not always deter behavior problems. One of the most popular methods for dealing with an unruly child is a timeout; here again the child’s age and maturity must be taken into account. Giving a child one minute of time out for each year of age is a standard rule of thumb. Timeouts should take place in a previously specified area and at least two warnings of an impending timeout should be given. Do not tell a child that he/she will be given a timeout and then not give the timeout, otherwise the warning becomes meaningless. Do not allow the child to play with anything during the timeout or to speak with the parent, caregiver, or other children. It is important, however, that the parent be able to see the child and respond if he/she has a problem. Timeouts administered in a consistent and loving manner often alleviate many behavior problems.

Diet, changes in routine and unruly playmates can also lead to behavior problems. Many parents realize the havoc sugar can wreak on childhood behavior but other foods may also be the culprit when a child acts up. Recent research has convinced many that more extreme behavior problems may be caused by processed foods. There are those who believe that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is caused by junk food. At the very least eating a diet high in processed foods can lead to restlessness, over activity and inability to concentrate. All of these problems may be solved by choosing foods that are high in nutrients and low in additives. A piece of fruit or a handful of nuts eaten mid-morning and mid-afternoon may curb a child’s behavior problems.

Changes in day to day life that may not affect an adult can be extremely upsetting for a child and my cause behavior problems. It is important that a child get enough sleep. Pre-school age children require at least ten hours of rest each night. A change in child care arrangements may also be more traumatic for a child than a parent realizes. Be alert to acting out which may occur when a child has a different caregiver for even a day. Many children will test the limits of a new caregiver. Be sure that all child care employees are aware of family rules and enforce them in a nurturing, reliable manner. Parents should also be aware when new children come into a child’s life. A parent is a child’s best role model but children also learn many behavior traits from their playmates. Sudden changes in a normally obedient child’s behavior may stem from other children who are not required to behave; sometimes the only solution to this problem is not allowing certain playmates.

Most childhood behavior problems can be alleviated through consistent discipline that is appropriate to the child’s social development. At times, however, there may be more serious problems that will require professional help. Many parents are reluctant to engage a professional. They fear such an approach will label them as bad parents or stigmatize their child. Often times it takes only a short time for the season eye of an objective professional to spot the problems in a parent child dynamic.

The answer to some childhood behavior problems may be as simple as teaching a parent to react differently to the child’s misbehavior. Many times bad behavior is a way of getting a parent’s attention. Rewarding a child before he/she misbehaves may be a more effective way to stem bad behavior than waiting for a child to do something that requires punishment. In addition, parents may not realize that they are stifling a child’s social development by allowing him/her to act in a childish manner. It is wrong to allow a child to grow up too quickly but it can be equally detrimental to treat them as babies when they should be learning independence and self-control.

Parents must also be aware that some childhood behavior problems have physical causes which may require medicine or professional care techniques. Behavior problems that do not respond to reliable discipline, a consistent routine and proper diet, and rest should be investigated. Left unattended minor behavior problems can disrupt an entire family, spill over into school, and mushroom into larger problems.