Author: Chien Liu

Discovering that your child is havingpanic attacks — or suspecting theymight be — raises an urgent anddeeply felt question: why? Why isthis happening to my child? Whatcaused it? Is something seriouslywrong? The research on panic attacks inchildren is specific and reassuringon one essential point: panic attacksare not a sign that something isseriously medically wrong. They…

A child having a panic attack isone of the most frightening experiencesa parent can witness — and one ofthe situations where the wrong response,however well-intentioned, can makethings significantly worse. The childwho is hyperventilating, trembling,convinced they are dying or losingcontrol, needs a specific kind ofsupport — calm, grounded, and informedby what the research shows actually helps.…

Oppositional Defiant Disorder isone of the most treatable childhoodbehavioral conditions — and one ofthe conditions where early, effectiveintervention makes the most significantdifference to long-term outcomes.The research on ODD treatment isextensive and specific — identifyingapproaches that work, approachesthat do not, and the factors thatpredict the best outcomes. This article covers what the researchshows about the most…

One of the first questions parentsask when their child is diagnosedwith Oppositional Defiant Disorder —or when they suspect their childmay have it — is “why?” Why doesmy child have this? What caused it?Did I do something wrong? The research on the causes of ODDis clear on one essential point:ODD is not caused by bad parenting.It…

Oppositional Defiant Disorder andADHD are the two most commonlyco-occurring childhood behavioralconditions — and their combinationis one of the most challengingpresentations that parents andclinicians encounter. Research findsthat between forty and sixty percentof children with ADHD also meetcriteria for ODD — making thiscombination significantly more commonthan either condition alone. Understanding how ODD and ADHDinteract, why they so…

Recognizing the symptoms of OppositionalDefiant Disorder is not as straightforwardas it might seem — because everychild shows oppositional behaviorsometimes, and the line betweentypical defiance and ODD symptomsrequires specific knowledge to identifyaccurately. Missing ODD means missingthe opportunity for early interventionthat research finds significantlyimproves outcomes. Misidentifyingtypical defiance as ODD means unnecessaryworry and potentially inappropriate treatment. This article…

Oppositional Defiant Disorder — mostcommonly known as ODD — is one ofthe most common and most misunderstoodbehavioral conditions of childhood.It is frequently confused with normaltoddler defiance, with typical adolescentopposition, or with simply difficultbehavior that needs firmer discipline.It is also frequently missed — becausethe behaviors it involves are behaviorsthat all children show sometimes,and recognizing when those…

The relationship between authoritarianparenting and childhood anxiety isone of the most consistently documentedfindings in developmental psychology.While authoritarian parenting — withits high demands, strict rules, andlow warmth — might appear on thesurface to produce confident, disciplinedchildren, the research tells a moresobering story about its effectson children’s anxiety and emotional wellbeing. This article covers what the researchshows…

Of all the comparisons in the parentingstyle research, the contrast betweenpermissive and authoritative parentingis the most practically important —because both styles share genuinewarmth and responsiveness, and thedifference between them is subtleenough to be missed but significantenough to produce dramatically differentoutcomes for children. This article covers what the researchshows about permissive and authoritativeparenting — what each…

Permissive parenting is one of themost difficult parenting patternsto recognize in oneself — becauseits defining features feel, in themoment, like good parenting. Warmthfeels like love. Flexibility feelslike respect. Avoiding conflict feelslike kindness. The recognition thatthese qualities, without accompanyingstructure, constitute permissive parenting —and that permissive parenting producesconcerning outcomes for children —can arrive as a genuine surprise.…