Do you harbor the secret fear that your child could become out of control or violent as he gets older? You may see signs now that concern you. Cruelty to animals and other children, fascination with violence in the media, temper tantrums, lack of empathy for the feelings of others, isolation and alienation from his peers and teachers, all strike fear and sorrow in the hearts of caring parents.
If you recognize in your child the early warning signs of youth violence, please take heart. You can help your child; it is not hopeless. Some ideas for taking action are:
Be Informed
Familiarize yourself with the symptoms of childhood emotional and behavioral disorders and treatment options. Buy a Trapper-style notebook and use it to keep records of your child's evaluations, treatment history, and progress. When you see a helpful article or handout related to your child's disorder, print or cut it out and keep it in your folder.
Don't Go It Alone
Talk to your child's teachers and counselors about his problems. Schedule your child for a complete psychological evaluation then follow up with treatment recommendations. Join a parenting support group or find a counselor for yourself to learn coping skills.
Don't Use Violence
Aggressive behavior increases in children after they witness violence at home, school, or in the media. Spanking is especially harmful to children with psychological disorders. Unfortunately, these are the children who are most likely to trigger physical abuse from a stressed-out parent. My recommendation is that you do not allow your child to view violent programming or play violent games - hard in today's world, isn't it? But, if you start now it will be easier.
Don't Give Up
You will see setbacks in your child's progress, especially during times of stress. Plan for stressful situations and model good coping skills. Talk to him about his feelings and worries. Let him know that you love and support him. Convey your faith and confidence that he can cope successfully.
Parents' Index to Childhood Emotional and Behavioral Disoders
More on Children's Behavior Disorders at Parenting of K-6 Children
