Emotional Symptoms of Behavioral Disorders Putting blame on others. Refusing to follow rules or questioning authority. Arguing and throwing temper tantrums. Having difficulty in handling frustration.

They might include doing homework, being polite, and doing chores. These actions receive compliments freely and easily. Other behavior is not sanctioned but is tolerated under certain conditions, such as during times of illness (of a parent or a child) or stress (a move, for instance, or the birth of a new sibling).

Warning signs that your child may have a mental health disorder include:

1. Persistent sadness — two or more weeks.
2. Withdrawing from or avoiding social interactions.
3. Hurting oneself or talking about hurting oneself.
4. Talking about death or suicide.
5. Outbursts or extreme irritability.
6. Out-of-control behavior that can be harmful.

In fact, age 8 is so tough that the majority of the 2,000 parents who responded to the survey agreed that it was the hardest year, while age 6 was better than expected and age 7 produced the most intense tantrums. These findings may seem surprising if you’ve never had an 8-year-old.

New research suggests that yelling at kids can be just as harmful as hitting them; in the two-year study, effects from harsh physical and verbal discipline were found to be frighteningly similar. A child who is yelled at is more likely to exhibit problem behavior, thereby eliciting more yelling. It’s a sad cycle.

Disrespectful behavior often comes down to kids having poor problem-solving skills and a lack of knowledge about how to be more respectful as they pull away. Often when kids separate from you they do it all wrong before they learn how to do it right.

Some children may be more sensitive to their environment and have higher sensory needs that can cause them to feel irritated, which results in immature or “annoying” behaviors.

One common trigger is frustration when a child cannot get what he or she wants or is asked to do something that he or she might not feel like doing. For children, anger issues often accompany other mental health conditions, including ADHD, autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and Tourette’s syndrome.

Below are several techniques to control your anger and stay calm when dealing with your child.

1. Make a Commitment To Stay in Control.
2. Expect Your Child To Push Your Buttons.
3. Know What You Are and Are NOT Responsible For as a Parent.
4. Don’t Worry About the Future.
5. Prepare for Your Anxiety.
6. Use Positive Self-Talk.

So if you want your child to be calm, the first step is staying calm yourself….Here are six ways to stay calm in the midst of behavioral chaos.

1. Take care of yourself.
2. Decide to change.
3. Stop and breathe.
4. Get some space.
5. Set a limit respectfully.
6. Find the right time to teach.

How to handle difficult behaviour

1. Do what feels right. What you do has to be right for your child, yourself and the family.
2. Do not give up. Once you’ve decided to do something, continue to do it.
3. Be consistent.
4. Try not to overreact.
5. Talk to your child.
6. Be positive about the good things.
7. Offer rewards.
8. Avoid smacking.

Apologize

1. Take responsibility for your behavior. Own your role in the situation, whatever it was.
2. Say you’re sorry. Simple as that.
3. Make a plan for moving forward, even if just for the next few hours.
4. Do not promise that you’ll never lose your temper again.

Follow these 7 steps the next time an apology is in order:

1. Own your feelings and take responsibility for them.
2. Connect the feeling to the action.
3. Apologize for the action.
4. Recognize your child’s feelings.
5. Share how you plan to avoid this situation in the future.
6. Ask for forgiveness.
7. Focus on amends and solutions.

If a parent is on an important phone call and needs a young child to be quiet for a couple of minutes, saying “shut up” in a stern voice just isn’t appropriate. It’s rude and demeaning. Saying “Just a minute, please” is a lot more constructive and it teaches good manners.

Speaking gently: 20 things you should never say to your children

1. 1. “ Stop crying, you’ll be fine”
2. “I do everything for you”
3. “You did well but you could do better”
4. “Don’t eat that or else you’re going to get fat”
5. “It’s not that big of a deal” or “Stop being such a baby”
6. “Do I have to tell you this 100 times?”
7. “Big girls/boys don’t do that”
8. “That’s only for boys/girls”

Source: Rawpixel .com/Shutterstock. Toxic relationships include relationships with toxic parents. Typically, they do not treat their children with respect as individuals. They won’t compromise, take responsibility for their behavior, or apologize. Often these parents have a mental disorder or a serious addiction.