| When you have a toddler, you are fully expecting | | | | children, you are dealing with a completely |
| the "terrible two's". This is when a child first learns | | | | different animal altogether. The "terrible two's" |
| to say "No!" and uses it all the time. These are | | | | seem to last forever and you find yourself |
| not necessarily oppositional defiant children, but | | | | arguing incessantly with your child, well into their |
| they are children who are establishing their own | | | | teen years. Everything that you say to them is |
| wants and needs and testing your boundaries. | | | | wrong or stupid or mean, and they fight you |
| They need to know what they can and cannot | | | | every step of the way. |
| get away with, and they certainly put you | | | | Oppositional defiant children are difficult on you |
| through the test every day. | | | | and your entire family, but the real trouble will |
| By the time a child reaches school age, he or she | | | | come later on when they take this behavior |
| usually knows how to behave in a socially | | | | outside of the home into school, the workplace, |
| acceptable fashion. They know who the authority | | | | and out into public. |
| figures are and that they have to respect them. | | | | What is just angry and nasty behavior at home |
| They know that they have to do what you say, | | | | could easily be seen as threatening or even illegal |
| whether they like it or not. Yes, they may put up | | | | behavior by the time they are teenagers, so it is |
| a fight and have the occasional meltdown, but for | | | | in everyone's best interest that they are dealt |
| the most part, they follow your rules. | | | | with early on. |
| When you are dealing with oppositional defiant | | | | |