Do's and Dont's in Parenting - Coping With Difficult Children

As parents we are faced with childhood disordersan appropriate punishment.
(like ADHD) which other generations never evenParents can enforce the consequences quoting
had to face. These disabilities create a crisisthe rules set down by the whole family. In this
between children and parents and often theway, they can deflect the child's anger at the
quality of the attachment is affected in a negativeparents because the child knows that the
way. You may have to face the fact that yourauthority of the family is what counts as the rules
child has ADHD and you will need help for ADHD.have been set down beforehand.
Whatever the situation parenting techniques willYou can surprise your child by acting in a really
always stand you in good stead.unexpected manner - this is sometimes called a
Child abuse and neglect are often a result of poorguerrilla parenting technique. If a child is fighting,
parenting techniques especially where exasperatedthen an effective way of dealing with this is to
parents go overboard and the results areget him to do the sibling's chores the next day.
dramatic for all concerned. Parents areThat is much more effective than sending him to
desperately trying to learn techniques which will behis room. The fact that he now has to reflect and
effective and save them an expensive trip to aactually take the consequences makes a much
child therapist.greater impact on the misbehaving child. Belittling a
Children are so quick to model the behaviour ofchild or putting her down is not part of guerrilla
their parents. They will not do what the parentparenting techniques.
says, but they will do what the parents haveIf you have a child showing a negative, snotty
modelled. Children model the behaviours that theattitude, walk by and hand your child a tissue. See
parent has presented to them time and timeif your child figures it out without your help. Don't
again.say anything, just hand it to the child. What about
Parents can move in new and unexpected ways,the child who likes to say, 'That's stupid.' If your
which throws the children off guard; it may shiftchild says this phrase a lot, say, 'No, this is stupid,'
tension and anger to silence and laughter instantly.and do something really crazy like walk
Above all, you use natural consequences forbackwards with your head between your legs.
misbehaviour instead of punishment, so theThen, stroll away and leave the child wondering
children have to look at how they created theirwhat that was all about.
predicaments instead of getting angry at theirIf your child has been diagnosed with ADHD, you
parents for punishing them. Children can no longermay be a bit wary of ADHD meds which have
claim that punishments or expectations are unfair,some alarming side effects. The Adderall ADHD
and parents can take on the role of calmlydrug, for example, was withdrawn in Canada. Find
enforcing the pre-arranged consequences insteadout what alternative ADHD treatment is available
of having to impress upon the child theand also how ADHD behavior therapy can help
seriousness of the problem and scramble to findyou.