All children misbehave from time to time. As they go through their developmental years, begin to develop a sense of independence, and learn how to navigate their emotions, it is common for kids to have infrequent bouts of poor behavior.
Outbursts and temper tantrums can occur as children struggle to express themselves and their frustrations. Occasional behavior patterns like this are completely normal; however, continuous disruptive behavior might be an indicator of significant underlying issues.
At Just 4 Kids, we aim to support kids with behavioral and conduct problems by getting to the root causes and strengthening parent-child relationships along the way.
Behavioral and conduct problems can manifest in various ways, such as disobedience, anger, and even aggression. These behaviors can affect a child’s home, school, and social life. If not treated, they can result in damaged relationships, academic consequences, and in serious cases, even law violations.
A strong-willed child might defy teachers’ instructions once or twice. While this type of behavior should be corrected, it is not severe.
However, repeatedly disobeying teachers, ignoring instructions even after being corrected, and regularly causing interruptions in class would be considered disruptive behavior. Such behaviors, as well as starting fights with other children or reacting in anger may result from a behavior disorder.
The CDC explains that behavior disorders can be diagnosed when behavioral and conduct problems are frequent, severe, or uncommon for the child’s age.
Behavior disorders should not be written off as normal and dismissed. One in 5 children in the U.S. struggles with either a mental, emotional, behavioral, or developmental disorder, yet only about 20% receive help for these conditions.
When a child struggles with a behavior disorder, there are often underlying factors at play. Understanding the root causes of a child’s disorder can help address their behavioral and conduct problems. Some examples include:
Genetics
Hormones
Brain chemistry
Cognitive and emotional development
Stress and trauma
Co-occurring mental health disorders
Family dynamics
Childhood experiences
Socioeconomic stressors
A child with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) might act out regularly, create issues with other kids, or even cause problems in their own home. ODD is distinguishable from regular poor behavior by its frequency and daily negative impact on surrounding family and peers.
Symptoms of ODD include:
Conduct disorder (CD), on the other hand, involves patterns of aggression and extreme rule violations, such as violation of the law. Children with CD face a higher chance of injury and struggles getting along with other children.
Symptoms of CD include:
At Just 4 Kids, we believe that physical and mental health are interconnected. Our approach to mental health combines physical and mental healing in order to optimize the health of your child.
Our team of dedicated counselors is here to help treat your child’s behavioral and conduct problems and begin the healing journey.
Professional services for children with behavioral and conduct problems include:
Learn more about Just 4 Kids and how we can help treat children’s mental health challenges
Navigating behavioral and conduct issues can be tough on families. If you need help or advice, Just 4 Kids is here. For expert support and kid-friendly professional mental health services in Eastern Idaho, call (208) 534-7881 and schedule an appointment for your child now. We have same-day availability and are eager to help your child feel better.
(208) 534-7881
