Sulky, Rowdy, Rude?: Why Kids Really Act Out and What to Do About it

Children can be difficult (and worse) - this is a natural part of growing up. Conflicts and arguments are nothing exceptional, but rather a part of everyday family life. For parents, though, it can be especially difficult to deal with conflict with their own children, and often patterns of behaviour that get stuck can make things worse. The book shows how, as parents, we can create structures, methods and situations that work, so that the children can do what they need to do, while at the same time they feel security, belonging and autonomy, and practise self-control and cooperation. The authors start from the assumption that all children want to succeed, so through the practical explanations and examples provided in the book, parents will learn to identify the misunderstandings that can lead to negative behaviour, and how to focus on strategies that help to make everyday life simple and manageable for their children.

Based on years of experience working with children, especially those with a diagnosis, the authors structure their methods around the low arousal approach. They introduce the basic principles of self-management and conflict-resolution, and employ real-life examples to situate the theory in practice. With a thorough background in child psychology, this guide is essential reading for parents, guardians, and also for professionals working with parents.