When you’ve tried everything you can do to improve a child’s behaviour, and they still lack respect, they’re in danger of becoming a problem child. All children misbehave at times, but problem children tend to have a record of disruptive behaviour with their child-carers and at school, as well as at home.
This damaging reputation can stay with them, becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy lasting well on into adulthood. Problem children are more likely to display anti-social behaviour when they are grown up, and even to lead a life of crime. This becomes even more likely if your child has learning disabilities, ADHD, Asperger’s syndrome, Autism, or Obsessive Compulsive disorders.
With basic parenting skills you can improve your communication with your child, and will be able to combat persistent bad behaviour from them. It will not happen overnight, but rules, reward, consequences and consistency can form the four pillars of a strong discipline structure. Fair punishment is important too. Eventually, your child will feel more secure living within these reasonable boundaries.
Problem children also regularly display similar behavioural traits, such as aggression, defiance, dishonesty and lack of respect. In the second section of this site, we guide you through the right words to say in 5 everyday face-offs with your problem child.