From Defiant to Compliant

Any parent of a child with ODD has experienced more than his or her fair share of stares and comments in supermarkets shuls or schools. “Helpful” friends neighbors and relatives advocate tough-love techniques and establishing zero-tolerance for tantrums. But anyone with an ODD child knows that cracking down when a child is having a meltdown will only exacerbate the tantrum.

Blaming parents is easy. What’s more difficult — but crucial for the welfare of child parent and the whole family — is understanding ODD and implementing techniques that will help the child.

Dr. Ross W. Greene author of the widely acclaimed The Explosive Child has done extensive research on children with the behavior disorder called oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). Dr. Greene prefers to label them explosive children.

Children are “explosive” he explains because of a variety of reasons which include brain chemistry low frustration tolerance a rigid personality and an inability to react in a normal manner. Sometimes the disorder comes hand-in-hand with ADHD mood disorders or learning disabilities.