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ADD?ADHD?ODD? or just a diff child?

Dori - posted on 06/24/2012 ( 4 moms have responded )

118

is 3 years old to young to try and find out if there is a behaviarol problem with my daughter? She is constant nonstop and never stays on anything for long i know its hard for little ones but our biggest issues is zero lisening and straight out diffiance . she will litrally look you straight in the eyes and do what you have just told her not to do . we have tried every thing with this little girl and i swear most days she is more work then her 4.5 yr old brother that has ASD and advice as we are not familiar with the ADD/ADHD/ODD world thanks for any help

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Neva - posted on 06/24/2012

269

I would have her evaluated by a developmental specialist.Siblings of children with ASD are also at greater risk, it just may manifest in a different way. She may have ADHD or she may not have any disorder, just a strong willed child that is testing you. In any event, an evaluation will not hurt. In the mean time consistency is key. 3 year olds do not have impulse control, so even if you think they know what they should be doing or not doing, they may still do what they want. When you tell her something, get down to her level and look her in the eye and tell her what you expect and what the consequence will be if she doesn't obey (such as time out). Then as soon as she is deffiant, immediately apply the consequence without any further talking. Don't jump from method to method. Stay consistent with the method you choose and stay consistent with what you expect. Don't allow the behavior to continue one time and punish it the next. This just blurs the boundaries for the child and testing will increase.

Anaquita - posted on 06/24/2012

428

At the age of three, it sounds more like she's testing her boundaries. Which is normal. And three year olds never stay on anything for long. What you need to do is find a way to enforce consequences for bad behavior, that works for you, and her. For my son it was time outs at that age. Sometimes it was just sitting still on the couch. (No TV, toys, etc) sometimes it was in a corner, or next to the wall, nose facing it. Unless he say, purposely hit me with a toy, then he lost the toy for a good amount of time.

That may, or may not work for you.

ADD/ADHD is rarely diagnosed this early on, as far as I know. As three year olds tend to be hyper anyhow. I don't know about ODD.

Sharlene - posted on 06/24/2012

3,896

239

@Cherish, Thats a really good book I've read it and it gives you all sort of info and tips. @ dori. do think she might have a short attention span. But I guess at 3 yrs old its really hard to pick up lol.

Cherish - posted on 06/24/2012

727

Hi,
Have you read "parenting with love and logic" or "1-2-3 magic"?
A REALLY good book for kids that are "testy is "the explosive child"

If she is looking at you and doing what you told her not to do,it really sounds like she is testing you

Even if she does have ADHD I don't think anyone will dx that until kindergarten at the earliest