Disciplining a Child Suffering from Bipolar Disease

Disciplining a child with COBPD can be one of the hardest things to do. COBPD means Child Onset Bipolar Disease. It's very rarely diagnosed for this mental disorder to occur among children. Children with bipolar disease are treated with the same medications as adults, but children with this disorder have less episodes. An adult with Bipolar disorder will experience these moods that last for months or weeks at a time. Children with COBPD experience many mood swings within one day. This disorder is not easy to diagnose or recognize. To figure out if your child is suffering from this disorder, a psychiatrist usually asks you questions regarding the family history, and the child will be evaluated by the child psychiatrist.

Some of the symptoms include:
-Child tends to show characteristics of mania,
-Irritability
-Explosive Rages
-Temper Tantrums
-Hyperactivity
-Aggressiveness
-Rapid or pressured speech
-Difficulty sleeping or over sleeping
-A Loss in interest of activities once enjoyed.
-Change In School Grades
-Carelessness.

You shouldn't have to alter your whole approach on parenting if you feel your child is suffering symptoms of COBPD. It may be somewhat harder to discipline your child, but as a parent, only you know what's best for your child, and can always be in control of them. You just need to know the right way to do it. Pay attention to which ways of discipline help your child to listen to you the most. Good parenting has to do more with good instincts and basic common sense, more than anything else. A loving and secure attachment to your children is the best foundation for any family.

To be respected, you must give your child respect also. When they get into trouble, let them talk to you about it, instead of throwing a tantrum. Listen to what they have to say, and then give them your side of the story. Tell them why what they did was wrong. Tell them why they shouldn't do it, and explain to them what will happen when they do.

It may be hard to control your child if they are suffering COBPD, and they may get out of hand very often, but do not scream at them whatsoever. They will not want to listen to you. Though you may feel like you're getting your point across easier, and letting your anger go, you're really stooping to their level on this. As a parent, you're supposed to be the responsible one. You're supposed to set a good example for your child. If you're screaming or cursing at your child, then they'll think it's okay to scream and curse too. Bipolar children will tend to get very out of hand, especially when it comes to throwing tantrums. For any parent, that is unacceptable to do too, when you get angry at them. This will be easier for the both of you. You don't have to change all of your rules of parenting, but talking to them would be a start. This will help the tantrums and fight.

Disciplining your child is all out of love. Make sure that they know you love them, but don't let them play you for a fool. Sometimes children like to say things such as "Aw you don't love me anymore". You need to let them know that if you didn't love them anymore, then they would be out doing whatever they wanted to. Some parents seem to tend to them more when their children act like this, and say things like this. When your child acts like this, simply let them know you love them, and tell them discipline is what they'll get when they act like this. When you tend to your child when they act like this, they'll see it as they can get out of anything by whining and crying. They will start to think that you will pity them when they act like this. That means don't do it.

You're the bigger person. When your child acts like this, do not cry or act out of hand with them. Don't let them control you. You're the parent. That's the key to getting their respect. They will find out what bothers you and push your buttons, and you can't let them. If you have to, take some parenting classes, or put them in a class also. Another thing that is important is to do things with your children, and spend time with them. They will see that you love and care for them, and want to have fun with them, too. But other times when your children are acting out of hand, you need to discipline them. That doesn't mean don't show any love to them either, though. Just don't show any pity towards them.

Each children is different. Some levels of good and bad can vary with children. Some children can try their best to have good behavior, but they still won't be as good as some kids. Don't set an example of what they should be. They just need to try their best. Pay attention to what's their best and what's their worst. Reward them when they've been their best. Don't reward them for being good for only one day, they have try and keep it up for longer than that. Teach them they need to earn things instead of cry about them. Common sense says to discipline them when they're bad. Don't go overboard with it, though. Be sure to discipline them according to what they've done, instead of disciplining them to what you want to do at the time. Do not take away educational activities such as sports or reading. Children need this to grow, be healthy, and learn. When they throw tantrums, and you're telling them they're in trouble, and they still don't want to listen or calm down, add days on to it. The best thing that your children need is love, care, and understanding. Whether you're disciplining them or not.