As children develop, it is common for them to face emotional and behavioural difficulties as they transition through their life stages. These difficulties may be due to naturally occurring events such as a child’s growth and development. Such increase in behaviour difficulties is age-appropriate and reflective of a child’s developmental stage. For example, the ‘terrible twos’ or the teenage struggle to develop independence. Other times, it may be due to stressful situations such as a loss of a loved one, separation of parents, new sibling, or a transitional change to a new city. An increase in behavioural difficulties in response to stressful situations is normal, and in most children, the behaviour fades over time.
One of the main struggles facing parents of children with emotional or behavioural problems is deciding whether the child’s behaviour is age-appropriate and normal, or out of the norm and requiring additional professional attention. Generally, there are 4 main guidelines which parents can use to help families make the decision to seek a professional evaluation.
If you have concerns about your child’s behaviour, it is important to seek professional support to get a better understanding of the underlying issues which may be impacting your child’s behaviour. This can be done through a consultation with a clinical or educational psychologist. Generally, research has shown that the earlier the child receives intervention, the better the outcome would be. Children who have untreated behavioural disorders may grow up to be dysfunctional adults.
