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Child Behavior (Expert Forum)
Need help with my son
Answered by
Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D. - Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Family Therapy, Crisis Intervention
Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates
This forum is for questions and support regarding child behavior issues such: Child Discipline (behavior management), Normal Child Development, Parent-Child Communications, Social Development
Need help with my son
by Rhonda, Jan 30, 2000 12:00AM
He is 5 and alot of the time acts horribly towards me. He calls me names, tells me he hates me, sticks out his tongue at me and on a few occasions has hit me. I am a single parent going through a divorce. He doesnt see his father as he lives in another state. His father was overly aggressive with him (would yell constanly and hit him) so he didn't like his father. It is embarrassing for me in front of people for him to act the way he does. I don't know how to discipline him in front of people other than to just remove him from the situation. He can be very sweet but his bad behaviour is outshining him right now.
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D., Jan 31, 2000 12:00AM
, Jan 31, 2000 12:00AM
Dear Rhonda,
It's important that you set limits on aggressive behavior and verbal mistreatment. Use time out to respond to such behavior. Time out should be implemented immediately in the face of physical aggression. Time out can be used with verbal behavior when, after a single warning to stop, your son persists.
Now, the underlying matter is your son's anger. He's likely displaying what is called an Adjustment Disorder secondary to the crisis in the family. Situatioins like this call for professional intervention, and you would be wise to seek a consultation with a pediatric behavioral health/mental health clinician. The clinician can guide you in re: to parenting issues and also evaluate your son around the need for individual therapy (sometimes with very young children we focus most of the efforts on collaborating with the parent).
It's important that you set limits on aggressive behavior and verbal mistreatment. Use time out to respond to such behavior. Time out should be implemented immediately in the face of physical aggression. Time out can be used with verbal behavior when, after a single warning to stop, your son persists.
Now, the underlying matter is your son's anger. He's likely displaying what is called an Adjustment Disorder secondary to the crisis in the family. Situatioins like this call for professional intervention, and you would be wise to seek a consultation with a pediatric behavioral health/mental health clinician. The clinician can guide you in re: to parenting issues and also evaluate your son around the need for individual therapy (sometimes with very young children we focus most of the efforts on collaborating with the parent).
