Frustrating, Obstinate, and Unlikeable.

These traits are not just assigned to minors, but when it applies to your child you will want to do something about it. There are many ways that this behavior manifests itself. Perhaps they are always poking at their siblings. Maybe they make loud noises at the dinner table. Rest assured most kids experiment with obnoxious behavior at one time or another.

Here are some ways to address that behavior –

1.  Address it at the beginning.

2.  Praise your kid when they behave well.

3.  Ignore some benign behaviors…every kid pretty much does annoying things.

4.  Obnoxious behavior needs to be pointed out immediately.

5.  Warn them about the consequences if it continues.

How about giving me a call and we will address it together? As a parent you know when you have reached the point where a third party can be immensely helpful. My name is Dr. Steven Sussman. I have spent decades dealing with aberrant behavior in children around New York City. Visit my website at sussmankids.com and arrange an appointment at my Mountainside, NJ office by calling (908) 217-8106.

ODD is NOT Odd.

No, it is not.  ODD is the acronym for Oppositional Defiant Disorder.  I have found that many children with attention deficit issues and learning disabilities will shut down academically which, obviously not only impedes them at school, but in life as well!  They are not actually defiant even though you might think so at first blush.

What happens in our school systems?  Well, they primarily employ reading and memorizing as well as lecturing which are the very weaknesses of the children who have ODD!  The goal here is to reach, to teach, to educate, and to motivate them to develop the maturity and the skills to succeed in school and in life so that they will shed this label.

There is a link on my website that explains it in greater detail.  Please visit sussmankids.com and click on the ODD link in the lower right.  You will see a thoughtful, detailed paper called the Shutdown Learner.  I hope this helps, then give me a call for a consultation in my Mountainside, NJ office at (908) 217-8106.  My name is Dr. Steven Sussman and I look forward to our visit.