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Oppositional Defiance Disorder
ODD is another externalized behavioral disorder. In children with ODD you would expect ongoing uncooperative, defiant, and hostile behavior towards those in authority. This could be expressed as arguing excessively with adults, questioning rules, refusal to comply to requests and rules, deliberate attempts to upset others, and easily annoyed and angered. http://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/Children-With-Oppositional-Defiant-Disorder-072.aspx by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry |
The main objective of children with ODD is to resist control and manipulation from any adult figure. So the more controlling the adult appears to be, the more likely the child is to act oppositionally. In a classroom or learning setting, this can be very distracting for the other kids and might prompt them to also disobey instruction.
Working with kids that show symptoms of ODD can be very difficult at first and you will need a lot of patience. But there are a few things you can do to help these kids.
Carla Butorac came up with a strategy to use when attempting to get a child to do a task, simply tell them "Do it, or don't do it." This takes away the option of opposing the instruction and gives back the child a feeling of control and choice.
Working with kids that show symptoms of ODD can be very difficult at first and you will need a lot of patience. But there are a few things you can do to help these kids.
- Always build on the positives. Reinforce desired behaviors by praising them when they show a positive behavior.
- Take a break if you know you'll only make the conflict worse; sometimes you'll just need to walk away.
- Have reasonable expectations and be consistent.
- If things get out of hand get your supervisor or another adult that can deal with behavior.
- Discuss problems privately with the student rather in front of other children.
- Stay calm and be direct and firm with the student.
- Only threaten with consequences when the consequence can be followed through.
Carla Butorac came up with a strategy to use when attempting to get a child to do a task, simply tell them "Do it, or don't do it." This takes away the option of opposing the instruction and gives back the child a feeling of control and choice.
More tips on how to work with non-compliant students:
Strategies for managing non-compliance/defiance http://www.interventioncentral.org/behavioral-interventions/challenging-students/school-wide-strategies-managing-defiance-non-complianc
Strategies for managing non-compliance/defiance http://www.interventioncentral.org/behavioral-interventions/challenging-students/school-wide-strategies-managing-defiance-non-complianc
In my own experience, working with kids that exhibit similar behaviors to ODD is really difficult and will try your patience. I often felt hopeless and out of options when trying to work with them. I had to be reasonable and accept that there was only so much that I could do with a kid that wouldn't listen to me or our teacher. You have to remember that you cannot control a child no matter how much you would like to.
Many times I had to get another adult who could better control the situation, because there was little to nothing I could actually do to control certain behaviors. Ask for help when you need it.
During the school year in Minneapolis Public Schools, kids with severe enough symptoms like these have an adult with them at all times that are able to take them out of the classroom when they are being disruptive and control other behaviors. Most summer school programs do not have the same resources so these children do not receive the same level of support that they are accustomed to.
Sometimes there really is nothing you can do; children with severe ODD often need behavioral therapy and very supportive and involved parents in order to be easier to work with in the future.
There was one child in particular who had issues doing what he was told most of the time. He wouldn't want to walk with our class, do his worksheets, or even play with the other kids most days, It was only at the end of my time at the site where he would let me play with him or even help him with a task. If I had more time with him I would have tried to develop a deeper relationship with him to try to get him to trust me more and understand that I cared about him and wanted the best for him.
Many times I had to get another adult who could better control the situation, because there was little to nothing I could actually do to control certain behaviors. Ask for help when you need it.
During the school year in Minneapolis Public Schools, kids with severe enough symptoms like these have an adult with them at all times that are able to take them out of the classroom when they are being disruptive and control other behaviors. Most summer school programs do not have the same resources so these children do not receive the same level of support that they are accustomed to.
Sometimes there really is nothing you can do; children with severe ODD often need behavioral therapy and very supportive and involved parents in order to be easier to work with in the future.
There was one child in particular who had issues doing what he was told most of the time. He wouldn't want to walk with our class, do his worksheets, or even play with the other kids most days, It was only at the end of my time at the site where he would let me play with him or even help him with a task. If I had more time with him I would have tried to develop a deeper relationship with him to try to get him to trust me more and understand that I cared about him and wanted the best for him.