Sources: Parents Anonymous, Child Welfare League of America, New York University Child Study Center
While every child has difficult moments, sometimes anger can signal a more serious issue. Here are some behaviours you may want to discuss with a professional:
ELEMENTARY CHILDREN
-Marked fall in school performance.
-Poor grades in school despite trying very hard
-Severe worry or anxiety, as shown by regular refusal to go to school, go to sleep or take part in activities that are normal for the child's age
-Hyperactivity; fidgeting; constant movement beyond regular playing
-Persistent nightmares
-Persistent disobedience or aggression (longer than six months) and provocative opposition to authority figures
-Frequent, unexplainable temper tantrums
PRE-ADOLESCENTS AND ADOLESCENTS
-Marked change in school performance.
-Inability to cope with problems and daily activities
-Marked changes in sleeping and/or eating habits
-Frequent physical complaints
-Sexual acting out
-Depression shown by sustained, prolonged negative mood and attitude, often accompanied by poor appetite, difficulty sleeping or thoughts of death
-Abuse of alcohol and/or drugs
-Intense fear of becoming obese with no relationship to actual body weight, purging food or restricting eating
-Persistent nightmares
-Threats of self-harm or harm to others
-Self-injury or self destructive behaviour
-Frequent outbursts of anger, aggression
-Threats to run away
-Aggressive or non-aggressive consistent violation of rights of others; opposition to authority, truancy, thefts, or vandalism
-Strange thoughts, beliefs, feelings, or unusual behaviours
Source: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
