Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Child Behavior (Expert Forum)
Violent behavior
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
Violent behavior
by bb, Jan 05, 2001 12:00AM
I read the question from K submitted concerning her nephew who is diagnosed with ADHD. I have a similar problem with a relative's child who I watch after school. He is nine and needs to be monitored constantly. If he is allowed on the computer or to play video games, he will sit quietly for hours. If he is not doing that, however, I can be sure that one of my younger (4 year old and 9 month old) children will be injured by him. He will wait until my back is turned and trip them, knock them down, hit them with an object, etc., and then claim it was an accident. I have alerted the parents when it happens, and they have witnessed it, but always accept his claim to it being accidental. I have also witnessed him being cruel to animals, and my dog, who likes everyone, growls at him, which makes me feel he did something to her that I am not aware of. I know he is spoiled and not expected by his parents to be as mature as his age would dictate, but I worry that there is something more than poor parenting going on. I now keep him away from my children as much as possible, but that is not a solution to his problem.
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D., Jan 06, 2001 12:00AM
, Jan 06, 2001 12:00AM
Dear BB,
I agree that there is reason to worry about this boy. There may well be inadequate limit-setting from his parents, but in and of itself this does not usually result in the sorts of gratuitous aggression that you describe. The symptoms themselves can be typical of several emotional disorders (e.g., Conduct Disorder, Mood Disorder), but one way or the other they warrant specialized intervention.
I agree that there is reason to worry about this boy. There may well be inadequate limit-setting from his parents, but in and of itself this does not usually result in the sorts of gratuitous aggression that you describe. The symptoms themselves can be typical of several emotional disorders (e.g., Conduct Disorder, Mood Disorder), but one way or the other they warrant specialized intervention.
