We are all well aware of how society changes over the years, so is bad behavior in children connected with an increase in single parents families, family breakdowns, classroom sizes and E-Numbers or have we experienced an increase in these behavioral disorders simply because we are more acute with diagnosis and more aware of our children's feelings?



Perhaps the answer comes with a combination of these suggestions. And perhaps there are times, when medicating a child's behavior really is the answer. But the reason you're here reading this, I suspect, is because you're interested in finding another way forward that doesn't involve pumping stimulant chemicals (such as Ritalin) into your already over stimulated child and unnecessarily making changes to their brain chemistry if you can help it.

Disruption and bad behavior can be anything including bad temper, and argumentative attitude, being deliberately annoying, anger and spitefulness. This inevitably has an impact on the child's relationship with others and their ability to learn successfully in a regular classroom setting.

Surely if we are aware that behavioural problems are caused by chemical brain imbalances, then we should be looking towards altering the child's biochemistry in the simplest way. Studies have already favored more Omega 3 in a child's diet to help improve concentration and attention span. By changing a child's diet we are changing their chemistry.

Have you ever put a couple of teaspoons of sugar in a can of coke? If you haven't try it and see what happens! Sometimes things don't mix well and cause explosions. And it's the same with children. Onetime when I was working as a Nursery Nurse a parent came to collect her child. She took the 3 year old into the hall to put on her shoes and I left them to it. A few moments later I could hear screaming and shouting coming from the hall. I went out there to find my little friend making it very difficult for her mummy to put her shoes on her. I simply cleared my throat and the little girl looked up. Then I gave her ?the look? and she stopped in her tracks and very, very calmly let her mother put on her shoes. Needless to say her mother was stunned! There was simply a different kind of relationship between the child and her mother to what there was between the child and me. She knew exactly how to ?push her mummy's buttons? but knew it wasn't even worth trying it on with me. If parents are inpatient, inconsistent or demanding, their child is much more likely to display disruptive behavior. In addition, a teachers? use of praise can have a very positive effect on a child and even lessen the likelihood of bad behavior occurring.

What can be concluded is that a variety of interventions can be helpful for children who have behavioural problems. Coaching and redesigning of strategies can be useful for parents who require more effective means of dealing with their child's behavior.

Calming techniques and an understanding of other people's point of view can help a child feel more in control and open minded. NLP can empower de-motivated minds and techniques can be learnt to resolve conflicts with others.

NLP4Kids offers an after school programme during term time and a fun learning 5 day camp during the school holidays for children aged 10-13 years and 14-16 years provided by accredited NLP trainers Kay Gill and Gemma Bailey. Both have had many years experience working with children, Kay as a mother, and Gemma as a qualified Nursery Nurse.