Support and Education for Parents with Oppositional Defiant Children and Teens

By Mark Hutten, M.A.
WhatIsOppositionalDefiantDisorder.com is a resource for families and medical professionals who deal with the challenges of Oppositional Defiant Disorder [ODD].

Our website provides sources of professional help, recommended reading, moderated support message boards, lists of camps and schools, links to local/national/international support groups, educational resources, conference information, and articles.

We strongly believe that all children and teens faced with the challenges of ODD have the right to – and deserve – appropriate education, inclusion, support, and understanding so that they and their families may enjoy the highest possible quality of life.

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Tricks To Getting Compliance From Defiant Children and Teens

By Mark Hutten, M.A.
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Children and teens with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) talk back, refuse to do chores, use bad language, and say things like "You can't make me" nearly every day. While all children display this kind of behavior from time to time, with Oppositional Defiant Disorder children, the symptoms continue for six months or more. Thus, moms and dads feel they are always struggling with their youngster. Even more confounding, conventional discipline strategies usual fail. Children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder refuse to go on a time-out from an early age, and claim not to care about losing privileges. If their exasperated mother or father shut them in their rooms, they may destroy their own belongings or go out the window. When parents resort to spanking, the ODD child focuses on the parent’s behavior (e.g., "I'll call the police and report you for child abuse") instead of his own. Defiant kids actually believe they are equal to their parents. It'
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ODD Children Who Hit Their Parents

By Mark Hutten, M.A.
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The first thing a mother or father should realize is that aggressive behavior is common in children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) . The young child suffering from ODD simply lacks the maturity to hold back his impulse to hit or kick. He may actually know that hitting is wrong, but can't control himself in the middle of his anger and frustration. Anger and frustration are major issues for ODD kids. When the defiant youngster gets angry, he is expressing his utter frustration at the lack of control that he has over his world. Something happens that deeply troubles him, but he lacks the tools to express his frustration appropriately. This further frustrates him, and he explodes in anger. He may strike at parents with the only tool at his disposal – by hitting. Growing up is hard work. Many times, kids who face mental health issues and are under a lot of stress go through an aggressive phase. This can be because they have less energy for self-control, or because
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Self-Test: Oppositional Defiant Disorder

By Mark Hutten, M.A.
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Does your child have Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), or is it just normal moodiness? Take the ODD self-test below to find out. Signs of Oppositional Defiant Disorder will generally begin before your son or daughter is 8 years old. Occasionally, Oppositional Defiant Disorder can develop later, but it almost always develops before the age of 13. When Oppositional Defiant Disorder behavior develops, the signs tend to begin gradually, but then worsen over subsequent months and years.   ==> Help for Parents with Oppositional Defiant Children and Teens  Oppositional Defiant Disorder: Self-Test— My child: Is often a very negative person. Y or N Is often disobedient. Y or N Has had several suspensions and after-school detentions. Y or N Is often hostile or disrespectful toward authority figures. Y or N Uses excessive profanity. Y or N May be experimenting with drugs or alcohol. Y or N Has severe temper tantrums when things don’t go his/her way. Y or N Is frequen
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