Im a single mum of 2 little boys and my eldest who will be 4 next week has been diagnosed with ODD and possible ADD... Im at my wits end some days as he will not do as hes told and doesnt take to kindly to time out... (i usually get hit, kicked, bitten and scratched when i use time out) The other thing that worries me is that he will not toilet train, ive tried almost everything i can think of... If you refuse to put a nappy on him he will attack you (like the time out thing) or he will go and steal a nappy out of his 10 month old brothers room and put it on himself... If you take your eyes off him even to go to the toilet he will try and breakout of the house... I REALLY NEED HELP!!!
2006-08-19 21:42:49 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
Oooh, these guys are tough... Oppositional Disorders have a high correlation with ADD/ADHD, and occur in 8-15% of the general population. They are tough because (as I'm sure you are WELL aware) they are resistant to nearly everyone's plans. They are defiant, easily angered and have a temper, as well as being easily annoyed by others. What you can do... pick your battles by having few and simple rules and avoid playing the confrontation game (use reverse psychology). Develop your own plan (or you can talk to your local school district, who will assess him and have a professional help you) of what you will do when he attacks you, or has other negative behaviors. You need to be consistent above all else! Give him time where he is in control... give him some specific chores you know he can accomplish, or play a game like Simon Says where he is "Simon". The more things he thinks are his idea, the more compliant he will be (such as asking him, "What do you think we could do with all these toys on the ground?" when it is time to clean up) Give choices: "Do you want to wear the blue shirt or the green shirt today?", but no more than two (and make sure they are two you can live with!) When you do discipline, give him rewards that are privileges or activities (not money or candy or material things). When you are trying to get rid of a behavior you don't want him to have, prioritize. Think of the behaviors you want to eliminate first (violent ones, like hitting, biting, scratching) and work on those first. Use lots of encouragement... try to catch your child being good or doing what he should and say, "Wow! I like the way you went potty on the toilet!" (or whatever the case may be). Finally, you can try changing his diet, with less sugar and adding a daily multivitamin and more exercise (it increases the "feel-good" chemical, seretonin in the brain). Good luck!
2006-08-20 10:26:17 · answer #1 · answered by dolphin mama 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are not alone, I know exactly what you are going through. My 3 year old stepdaughter just started preschool and they think she has ADHD, which we are going to the doctors soon for. She refuses to potty train also, they only difference between her and your son is that she doesnt attack us, she attacks herself. I also am at my wits end with this, it is very stressful and it makes me feel like I am all alone, and that my son is getting cheated for all the attention she requires. I have been looking up all that I can find on the internet and what I have found on oppositional defiant disorder, is that the children are mostly defiant of authority figures other than their parents, but that was all I could really find. I hope your situation gets better, and I hope mine does too.
2006-08-20 05:03:39 · answer #2 · answered by This girl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I was a child, this was known as "being wilful".
Every mother on our street was very good at curing it. They had a cunning device known as "the back of my hand".
That is why mummies are bigger than children.
2006-08-20 06:43:19 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I hear you. Try the link below. I pray and hope it will help you.
http://www.mentalhealth.com/dis/p20-ch05.html
2006-08-20 04:47:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋