How To Deal With A Disruptive Teen
Disruptive behavior is normal to grow up teens. Loud raucous music, refusal to do chores, untidy bedrooms, the occasional breaking of the house rules and curfew, most of us parents let these things slip by, accepting that all these are just part and parcel of being a grown up teen. However, when disruptive behavior begins interfering with their daily lives and prevents them from achieving their goals, parents should be concerned enough to consider implementing certain actions to deal with this kind of behavior.
How do you identify a behavior that is not normal? How do you recognize unruly but normal behavior to disruptive behavior that needs help? Here are examples of common disruptive behaviors as taken from the Turning Winds website. These behaviors are considered severe and should require immediate action on your part.
- Anger
- Defiance
- Trouble at school: bullying, frequent suspensions, threat of expulsion, repeated flunking of subjects
- Threatening someone with a weapon
- Impulsiveness
- Low self-esteem
- Manipulation
- Negative peer relationships, i.e. association with gangs
- Promiscuity
- Rebelliousness
- Substance abuse, i.e. drugs, alcohol, tobacco, etc.
Also, some teen disorders can interfere with their daily activities and responsibilities, such as school work. As such, these are the serious concern for parents and should likewise need immediate action.
- Poor academic performance and disruptive behavior due to
- ADD and ADHD
- Anxiety
- Depression
- personality disorder
How do you help a teen struggling with disruptive behavior? Here are some strategies that you can implement.
Set House Rules and Enforce Them
Setting up house rules is a way of teaching teenagers how to act properly. Take note of the old proverb that says "learning starts at home". If your teen does not learn how to behave at home, he will not have the proper training or control to conduct himself properly outside.
For example, setting up a "No Cursing" rule at home will exercise your child's control regarding the use of inappropriate words. In time, he will also learn on how to control himself from saying inappropriate words in public.
Teach Your Kids About Respect
Parents who teach kids to show proper respect not only towards them but others as well go a long way towards successful lives. Respect involves a lot of things: it influences behavior in dealing with other people; it influences behavior when being aggrieved by others, and it influences predisposition towards rules and regulations. Children who are taught to show respect usually have proper deference to authority figures and the law once they become adults.
Teach Your Kids About Consequences
Kids need to know that all decisions they make can have outcomes that can be good or bad. They should be able to make good decisions based on its outcome, and conversely, they should understand that every poor decision they make can have an effect later on.
For example, if your kid decides he will spend the time playing video games instead of studying, he has to face the consequences of failing the subject - and if he fails, he must accept the consequence of having his Xbox confiscated until he makes up with good grades on the subject. Kids learn by making mistakes and then accepting full responsibility for its outcome. Teaching them about consequence is a good way of teaching them how to control themselves better, lest they suffer the consequences of their bad behavior.
When and Where You Can Seek Help
There are times when a behavior is characterized by bouts of lost self-control, resistance to discipline, and wanton disregard of house rules and your efforts alone may not be enough to cope with your teen's problems. In some cases, a professional help is required. If you don't know where to start, you can send us an email regarding your problem. Alternately, you can also contact one of our featured schools at 1-800-845-1413 for expert advice.