Non-compliance is the family therapist's big word for your child not obeying you when you have asked him or her to do something. It is helpful because it is descriptive, and because it may also motivate us as parents to move our kids from being non-compliant to being compliant.
Here's how we are going to define the term "non-compliance" in children:
1. The child fails to begin doing what he was asked within a reasonable amount of time (15 seconds);
2. The child fails to keep doing what he was asked until the job is finished;
3. The child fails to follow previously taught rules of conduct in a specific situation, such as at church, at school, at the store, or with friends;
When your child is non-compliant you need to take action. You simply cannot ignore the behavior hoping that it will go away. Deal with the situation yourself, or consider getting some professional help in tough situations. Non-compliance should be treated because:
1. It is the most frequent complaint of parents seeking help in clinics;
2. It underlies most negative interactions between family members and the child;
3. Because disruptive-aggressive behaviors usually do not occur randomly. Instead they occur in "bursts" and are usually associated with having asked the child to do something.
Over the years I have developed some presuppositions with respect to children and their behavior. I'd like to pass this on to you, as parents, with the hope that it will help you in dealing with your non-compliant child. They are:
1. Kids are weird. Children do not think like adults do, they do not process information as adults do. The do not see the world around them as adults do.
2. Kids are fools. This is not original with me. King Solomon, reflecting on his growing family (remember he had 1,000 wives and many children) said this a long time ago. "Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child," is the way he put it. Simply said, "Kids will do foolish things, they are not yet wise." It is our job as parents to teach them wisdom.
3. We often EXPECT more out of our kid's behavior than we expect from ourselves. We want others to excuse faults in us, yet we will expect perfection in our children. This needs to change.
4. Children do things on purpose. Sometimes your child will misbehave on purpose. He is testing you. He is observing you. Draw the line now, or you will be sorry later.
5. Child behavior is not random. See number 4.
Here are two phrases for parents to remember in understanding your children:
A child's behavior occurs because of who the child is, what the child knows about you, and what the child wants from you.
The child will do things either to get POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT, or to ESCAPE or AVOID SOMETHING that he does not want to do or have.
So please spend enough time with your child to let him know that you are on his side, and that you want the best for him. There are certain things that our children need to know in order to be successful in life, and one of those things is knowing how to listen and obey parents. Stay the course and be consistent with teaching your child wisdom and compliance. To learn more about helping children, visit http://www.addinschool.com.
Douglas Cowan, Psy.D., is a family therapist who has been working with ADHD children and their families since 1986. He is the clinical director of the ADHD Information Library's family of seven web sites, including http://www.addinschool.com, helping over 350,000 parents and teachers learn more about ADHD each year. Dr. Cowan also serves on the Medical Advisory Board of VAXA International of Tampa, FL., is President of the Board of Directors for KAXL 88.3 FM in central California, and is President of NewIdeas.net Incorporated.
limo prices to midway Crystal Lake west of Randal .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareLearning responsibility is an ever widening and lifelong process.As thinking,... Read More
All babies cry, but if yours cries a lot, isn't... Read More
"I don't know and I don't care."I've heard those words... Read More
A common theme over the past 20 years has been... Read More
Quite simply, an absolute nightmare for parents and babies alike,... Read More
It's funny how people seem to think that they have... Read More
A certain educator was once asked at what point should... Read More
Why Is Spending Time with Your Child So Important?For children... Read More
Many children enjoy TV, and they can learn from it.... Read More
Ritalin has been shown through the years to be very... Read More
Home, home on the range, Where never is heard A... Read More
My oldest boy is fifteen and was a real jerk... Read More
Voices have a way of falling into a pattern, not... Read More
Whether children attend public or private schools, they benefit when... Read More
For the most positive daycare experience for your child, partner... Read More
The least flexible character in all of the stories of... Read More
Most of us can agree that there is a lack... Read More
Once upon a time, I thought I had it all.... Read More
10 Fun Things You Can Do With Your Children this... Read More
The hot new reality TV show "Nanny 911" has been... Read More
An address given by Rev. David B. Smith... Read More
In our last article about the neurology of ADHD we... Read More
I've learned numerous, important lessons on life, motherhood and men... Read More
A number of scientific studies have shown the way a... Read More
How can two or three children in the same family... Read More
taxi o'hare Auburn ..Those of you that have children know what an excursion... Read More
Assuming there are no serious motor problems present, what can... Read More
Our children are growing up bilingual in the French part... Read More
The 'phone conversation had nothing at all to do with... Read More
I was in the life insurance sales industry for over... Read More
Q. With another school year starting, we are not sure... Read More
One fantastic way to get your children involved in what... Read More
So you want to be a mum? Every time you... Read More
While on a recent trip to the grocery store, I... Read More
Have you ever had this struggle with your teens? Did... Read More
"Not another meeting!"That tends to be the reaction from many... Read More
Here's some of the bad news about sedentary lifestyles:? Forty... Read More
Dear Vijay,I worry about not being a good parent. My... Read More
'Picky Eater' is a label coined to describe the phenomenon... Read More
The distressed adolescent often has feelings of abandonment, emotional detachment,... Read More
An estimated five million scooters will be sold this year... Read More
Here is an easy, inexpensive and fun kid experiment for... Read More
By not planning for the future we guarantee that we... Read More
Can you draw a straight line? Most adults don't consider... Read More
Teachers know that children thrive in an environment with routines,... Read More
Q: My husband and I are at a loss as... Read More
Younger generations unfortunately will not understand how larger than life... Read More
The cruel callous remarks made by our offspring can sometimes... Read More
As the father of a toddler, I am an expert... Read More
Each child carries a unique picture of the self, shaped... Read More
Parenting |