| Any parent trying to deal with a defiant child knows | | | | your home before things get worse. |
| just how frustrating and sad a typical day can be. The | | | | Because they WILL get worse over time, NOT better, |
| constant fighting, the willful disobedience, and a helpless | | | | if you don't do something about it. |
| feeling you get when you just can't seem to get | | | | Luckily, there are easy ways to put a system of |
| through to your kid can be heartbreaking. | | | | discipline in your home that works. Here are a few |
| Whether your child has actually been clinically | | | | quick strategies for dealing with a disobedient child, and |
| diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder | | | | then we'll talk about what you need to do to get the |
| (sometimes also referred to as Oppositional Defiance | | | | maximum results. |
| Disorder or ODD Disorder), or is simply displaying the | | | | Strategy: Avoid Power Struggles |
| kinds of behaviors that are consistent with ODD, what | | | | Defiant kids LOVE to engage authority figures in battle. |
| you want is a way to solve it. | | | | That means you, as the parent and ultimate authority |
| That's what I'm here to help you do today. | | | | figure, are going to be a favorite and constant target. |
| First, let's talk about some of the things you should look | | | | Most parents, those who have kids with ODD and |
| for that will help you determine the best strategies for | | | | those who have kids who only occasionally disobey, |
| dealing with oppositional defiance. | | | | almost always practice a form of discipline that makes |
| Then, in just a few seconds, I'm going to give you | | | | things WORSE, not better. |
| some specific things you can do starting today to | | | | This is because there's no set system of discipline that |
| make things better in your home. | | | | basically takes the power struggle out of the equation. |
| And I'm also going to tell you about a complete system | | | | Instead of setting up an "us vs. them" situation where |
| that's been taught in thousands of schools and | | | | there are truly no winners, you need to start using |
| churches all across the country that makes kids | | | | methods that teach your kids that it's in their own best |
| WANT to behave -- even kids with ODD Disorder -- in | | | | interests to behave. |
| two hours or less. | | | | More on this in a second... |
| We'll get to that in just a second, but first let's talk | | | | Strategy: Stop Yelling |
| about some of the questions you should ask to | | | | Loud voices tend to aggravate kids with ODD. And |
| determine the best ways to help you and your child... | | | | even kids who may not "officially" have ODD will often |
| Signs and Symptoms of Oppositional Defiant Disorder | | | | simply escalate the misbehavior when parents start |
| Ask yourself these questions. If you answer yes to | | | | losing their cool and raising their voices. |
| most of them, then I'd encourage you to check out the | | | | Listen, I KNOW how hard it can be to keep calm and |
| resources later on in this article because you're exactly | | | | in control when you're dealing with a child who seems |
| the type of parent who will benefit from them. | | | | to simply have no desire at all to follow your rules, but |
| - Is you child easily annoyed? | | | | it CAN be done. |
| - Would you describe your child as spiteful? | | | | I've taught tens of thousands of parents how to do |
| - Does your child often seem to have a negative | | | | just that, and it's NOT difficult once you know the |
| attitude? | | | | secrets. |
| - Does your child have mood swings? | | | | Strategy: Adopt a Discipline System and Stick to it |
| - Does your child frequently disobey authority (yours, | | | | This may sound easier said than done, and for a lot of |
| teachers, etc.)? | | | | parents who are in the dark about what effective |
| - Is your child easily frustrated or demanding? | | | | discipline really looks like, it may be. |
| - Does your child ever throw temper tantrums? | | | | But the truth is this... |
| - Is your child hyper-sensitive to criticism? | | | | Once you know what to do, solving oppositional |
| This is just a partial list, but if you found yourself | | | | defiance, or any other behavior problem, is fast and |
| answering yes to more than a few of the questions | | | | easy. |
| above, you're going to want to take some action in | | | | So let's talk about how to do that starting now. |