How to Identify Emotional Disabilities

Help your emotionally disabled child overcome a disability by looking for specific warning signs and targeting problem areas as early as possible.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Address Books
• Phone Books
• Phone Books
• Printers
• Telephones
• Computer Desks
• Library Cards
• Home Computers
• Laptop Computer

1. Watch your child in social peer situations. Is your child withdrawn or rejected by other children? Does your child dominate play, causing other children to not want to play?

2. Look for patterns of aggressive behavior lasting six months or longer. Does your child consistently bully others or use aggressive force with other children or animals? Does your child initiate fights?

3. Watch your child when playing independently. Does your child act violently toward toys and inanimate objects? Is your child self-destructive? Does your child seem depressed or uninterested in activity? Does your child cry or become frustrated easily?

4. Look for emotional cues. Does your child pretend to be physically ill when confronted with a school event or a social situation? Does your child have excessive fear or anxiety associated with certain activities? Does your child cry excessively over seemingly little things?

5. Set rules. Look for major infractions of rules such as truancy or running away with older children. With younger children, look for consistently breaking rules, aggression toward siblings, stealing and lying.

6. Talk openly with your child about the behavior that concerns you. Explain that you are concerned and want to make changes. Be specific and nonjudgmental.

7. Ask your child if something has happened to him or her. Children sometimes act out in an attempt to draw attention to a problem they are having and are afraid of discussing.

8. Ask your child's teacher if problems have occurred in the classroom and what things you can do to help your child at home.

Tips & Warnings

• Have your child professionally tested if you think your child has an emotional disability or if behavioral problems are creating academic, social or other problems for your child.
• Research emotional disabilities in an attempt to help your child.
• Beware of changes in environment or life events that may alter your child's behavior. Sometimes moving to a new town or school can cause a child to act out aggressively or overly emotionally in an attempt to adjust to the change.

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