Child Behavior and You

"Please help pick up the toys", only to be followed with "Please help pick up the toys" five more times. The child runs around the room laughing, Child is disciplined with a time out. Only the child won't stay seated for the time out. Time out followed with a pat on the behind, only to have the child laugh and run around the room again.

If you have never had this problem, count your self lucky. Many children exhibit this type of behavior early on, let's say from two to four years old, some even earlier. There are many ways to address these types of problems, but it is hard for us to admit when extra help is needed. Thus leaving us to a world full of unruly children. There is no shame in asking for help or advice. The biggest key is follow through. You say it, do it. Once learned that there is no warning and that good actions get good results and bad actions get negative results, many of these problems will go away.

However, we must remember that not all children are the same. If the pattern keeps up what do you do? You should notate the behavior with the time of day, what they had to eat through the day: Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks as well as any drinks. What sets them off to poor behavior? Are they defiant?

With all of this notated for a week or more, take the child to your pediatrician and ask for advice. It may be an allergy to certain foods, could be some hyperactivity, but you won't know for sure until you ask. Present the Doctor with as much information as is possible to help them get the idea of where you are coming from. They can then direct you in many ways.

If you still can not get through to them the next step would be an appointment with a Behavioral Health Specialist. These people are trained for this kind of behavior and can really be a great help. They can determine if the child may have a more serious problem such as ADHD or ADD, if this is so, the earlier you catch it the better. There is no need in todays world to drive yourself over the edge trying to figure what you did wrong, chances are you haven't done anything wrong, accept be afraid to get the help you all deserve.

The hope of this article is that it reaches just one parent out there that just does not know what to do next. Take a deep breath and get busy notating. Help is out here for you, Please reach out and take it!.