Whining and Your RAD Child — A Loving Solution!

March 22, 2010

Chances are that if your child has Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) whining is commonplace. It can drive a parent up a wall. Here is a perhaps exaggerated scenario. “Mom, I want that _________ (fill in the blank!)” “No, not now.” In a more plaintive tone, “Mom, I really want it.” “I said no.” In an [...]

Read the full article →

Do You Know the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)?

March 17, 2010

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), provides the criteria for and classifications of mental disorders. It is generally considered to be definitive although not without controversy. Originally published in 1952, the DSM has been through several versions – DSM-4 is the current edition. Over the [...]

Read the full article →

A Reactive Attachment Disorder Motto: Don’t Get Mad, Get Happy

March 15, 2010

Out in our culture we often hear, “Don’t get mad, get even.” Sometimes we hear, “Don’t worry, be happy.” Neither is particularly useful when thinking about children with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD). Depending on their histories, many RAD kids have had more than their share of parents getting even or something like it. Don’t worry [...]

Read the full article →

Dealing with Your Interrupting RAD Child

March 11, 2010

My RAD child has recently has enjoyed asking me interrupting knock knock jokes. I am sure you know them: “Knock, knock.” “Who’s there?” “Interrupting cow.” “Interrupting cow  . . .  “Moo, moo, moo.” RAD children love to interrupt adults in conversation. They annoy the heck out of us when they do and we tell them [...]

Read the full article →

Two Strategies to Help RAD Children Stop Stealing

March 5, 2010

Many children with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) steal. They might steal out of your wallet. Or out of a friend’s backpack. If your RAD kid steals, I would be willing to bet that it drives you to distraction. You have told your child all of your concerns about stealing until you are red in the [...]

Read the full article →

RAD Families Need Support: Ten Tips for Getting Support from Family and Friends

March 4, 2010

It takes a village to raise a child has become a popular rallying cry. The village is central to healing a child with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD). All too often our fellow villagers – families and friends — are critical of us, not supportive: “You’re being too strict. You just need to love your RADish [...]

Read the full article →

RAD Kids Who Lie — Future Writers?

February 25, 2010

Children with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) tell lies about anything at any time. They will lie to your face about something that just happened in your presence, where the truth is obvious. And the more you react with anger, the worse it gets. When a RADish knows how to push your buttons, the more the [...]

Read the full article →

10 Powerful Ways to Defy Defiance

February 24, 2010

Defiance is a major issue for children suffering from Reactive Attachment Disorder. We all have the privilege of dealing with defiance and often are frustrated about what to do. Here are 10 ten actions you can try. Loving eyes – Always always always loving eyes. Calm assertive voice – Keeping your voice calm and assertive [...]

Read the full article →

Assumptions

February 19, 2010

Kids with Reactive Attachment Disorder can be incredibly mischievous, to put it mildly. Classicly, kids with RAD are sneaky, they steal, they lye, and so on. The list of unpleasant and unacceptable behaviors is long. It is very easy to assume that if something is missing, broken or out of order that our RADish is [...]

Read the full article →

*PIZZAZZ* for RAD Kids

February 16, 2010

*Pizzazz*. I love *pizzazz*. RAD kids make many mistakes – they misbehave, steal, lie, and so on. They seemingly do anything they can to earn consequences. (Please avoid punishment; they had more than enough of that before they came to you.) When they do something correctly and the way we want it, when they do [...]

Read the full article →

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →