Has anyone had any luck with ODD kids? Parents still think their daughter is being picked on and even brought in the book “Odd Girl Out” at the beginning of the year, insisting that she was being picked on by everyone and this was her problem. This girl fits every description of an ODD kid. We have all begun to really challenge her and since her temper tantrums are getting worse, I figure we must be doing something right. Up till now we have only tried to pacifiy her and treated her with kid gloves. Is there anything we can try, until she is actually given a medical diagnosis which should be coming along soon? Perhaps some type of behavior plan that has worked for someone? Thanks,
Re: ODD
Marcia, Please read “The Explosive Child” by Ross W. Greene. That book offers very specific strategies for working with ODD kids. It takes an enormous amount of energy, patience and restraint on the part of persons working with such a child but everyone involved in her care should be united in their approach. Obviously the issue of medication may also need to be raised at some point but even if she were on medication, there’s still much work that would need to be done to retrain her habits (as well as the habits of her caregivers).
I’ve worked with many of these sorts of kids over the years. I also grew up with a sister who fits that description to a T. Virtually all the counseling I sought regarding my sister provided the same basic strategies outlined in the Greene book. In my experience, they’re the only strategies that work.
Interesting choice of book on the parents part. “ODD girl out”
Amy