Child Behavior Disorders (original) (raw)

Also called: Conduct disorders

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Summary

All kids misbehave some times. And some may have temporary behavior problems due to stress. For example, the birth of a sibling, a divorce, or a death in the family may cause a child to act out. Behavior disorders are more serious. They involve a pattern of hostile, aggressive, or disruptive behaviors for more than 6 months. The behavior is also not appropriate for the child's age.

Warning signs can include:

• Harming or threatening themselves, other people or pets
• Damaging or destroying property
• Lying or stealing
• Not doing well in school, skipping school
• Early smoking, drinking or drug use
• Early sexual activity
• Frequent tantrums and arguments
• Consistent hostility toward authority figures

If you see signs of a problem, ask for help. Poor choices can become habits. Kids who have behavior problems are at higher risk for school failure, mental health problems, and even suicide. Classes or family therapy may help parents learn to set and enforce limits. Talk therapy and behavior therapy for your child can also help.

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• Normal Child Behavior (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish

• What You Can Do to Change Your Child's Behavior (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish

• Children's Threats: When Are They Serious? (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) Also in Spanish

• Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) Also in Spanish

• When to Seek Help for Your Child (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) Also in Spanish

• 10 Tips to Prevent Aggressive Behavior in Young Children (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish

• Conduct Disorder (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) Also in Spanish

• Disobedient Child (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish

• Disruptive Behavior Disorders (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish

• Fighting and Biting (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) Also in Spanish

• Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

• School Refusal (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry)

• Shyness in Children (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish

• Swearing (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish

• Temper Tantrums (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

• Violent Behavior in Children and Adolescents (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) Also in Spanish

• Conduct disorder (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

• Discipline in children (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

• Oppositional defiant disorder (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

• Temper tantrums (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

• Trichotillomania (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish