oppositional defiant disorder in 4 year old

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Preschool Teachers Chatboard

oppositional defiant disorder in 4 year old

by lynn

Sep 21, 2017

Hi all. We have a challenging 4 year old student that has classic oppositional defiant disorder symptoms. He defies authority, wants to do the opposite of what the teachers want, even if he said he wanted to do the activity just minutes before, yells out that he wants to go home, etc. We are documenting all this behavior and will speak with parents soon. In the meantime, I was wondering what approach to take during circle. He looks around the circle and then fixes on one child and makes mad faces. So far, we have ignored this or we will say, "Everyone should be looking at me. Check your body and make sure you are in a good listening position." I don't like the fact that he is making the other children feel uncomfortable. I was thinking of having him sit in a chair outside circle but I am afraid he will make a bigger fuss. Does anyone have any experience with this type of behavior? Thanks.

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flacka I had an ODD child in my K class a few years ago and it was, to put it mildly, a "challenging" year. Before I describe what I did, I will tell you that the behavior did get better but it got worse before it got better so hang on, it's going to be a bumpy ride! It's all about power and I was NOT going to get into a power struggle with him!

...See MoreI had an ODD child in my K class a few years ago and it was, to put it mildly, a "challenging" year. Before I describe what I did, I will tell you that the behavior did get better but it got worse before it got better so hang on, it's going to be a bumpy ride! It's all about power and I was NOT going to get into a power struggle with him!

I gave him a quiet spot away from the group where he could go when he needed to but I could still see him at circle time. If he moved way into the area so I couldn't see him (power), I moved where I sat in the circle so he was never out of eyesight. He went there a lot at the beginning but he was usually also paying attention. I didn't care where he was sitting as long as he wasn't bothering anyone and was paying attention.

The biggest thing I did was to give him choices, 2 *appropriate* choices - you may sit on the rug for circle time or in a chair, you may get in line with the class or hold my hand as we walk in the hall, etc. So, he had the "power" to make a choice but it was always limited to 2 choices and I could live with either one. If he didn't make a choice when asked (power) I said I'd give him a min. to decide and if he didn't make a choice then I would. He would sometimes wait (power) so I would choose but I would choose the one that I didn't want as much and he would immediately choose the other one which was one I wanted. (If the choices were to walk in the hall with the class or hold my hand in the hall, I would choose walking with me so he would then want the other choice of walking with the class). Whatever choice he made and whenever he made it, I would say "good choice".

This all sounds good but it took awhile for him to realize that I wasn't going to give in to him, so he tested and tried to break me but I stood my ground and he backed down. I had to call the office on more than one occasion because he wouldn't comply and it wasn't easy but he finally got with the program. The fact that his mother was mentally ill didn't help things but we did get her on board with the 2 choices only hers weren't "appropriate" choices but we did the best we could.

UPDATE: He was in a self contained ED class for 1st and 2nd grade and then transitioned back to general ed for the rest of the years he was at my school and was OK in gen. ed.

Oct 9, 2017

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RonaldJanson Nice Post ...

Dec 5, 2018

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