How to Work With a Child With Oppositional Defiant Disorder

All children and adolescents can be difficult at times. They may argue and refuse to do what they are told. Some children and adolescents, though, seem angry much of the time, and much more argumentative and noncompliant than their same-aged peers. They may be vindictive, hostile and seem to have little conscience. Such children may be diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Only a mental health professional can diagnose Oppositional Defiant Disorder and psychotherapy is strongly recommended. However, there are things you can do in the classroom to help manage the behavior of the child with ODD.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Choose your battle wisely. Students with ODD will try to create power struggles, so pick the areas that are most important to focus on, rather than making an issue of every misbehavior.
2. Consult with the parents. Children with ODD are very difficult to deal with both at home and at school, and a better outcome is more likely if you and the parents can support each other. The parents may have some strategies for managing behavior that work at home that they can share with you. Also, collaboration will allow for consistency between home and school.
3. Involve the student in any plan to change his behavior. Otherwise he will be likely to think of you as just another adult to rebel against. However, if you do what you can to develop a rapport with this child and listen to him and let him talk, you will be more likely to get him to buy in to a behavior plan.
4. Stay calm. Students with ODD enjoy making people mad, so it is important to avoid letting them provoke you. Also, you are modeling appropriate behavior for them when you stay calm and respectful.
5. Give choices whenever possible. This will allow the student to feel as though she has some power, which may make her less likely to create power struggles with you. Similarly, giving her some classroom responsibilities may be a way for her to have some power in an appropriate way. If you are worried that she may abuse this, you can use the classroom responsibilities as earned privileges.
6. Consult with support personnel, such as a school counselor, psychologist, or social worker. Students with ODD often have poor relationships with their peers and need social skills training. In addition, they need help with conflict resolution and anger management, including how to recognize when they are getting angry and strategies to calm themselves. A "cool-off" pass and a safe place to go when angry or upset can help with this.
7. Provide structure and a consistent routine with clear rules, expectations and consequences. Minimize downtime, as students with ODD do best when kept busy.
8. Don't forget to praise good behavior. Reinforce cooperation by letting him do something he enjoys or finds less difficult. Again, it helps here to involve him in whatever plan you have. For example, together you might agree that if the student works on his math for x amount of time, then he can play a game on the computer.

Tips & Warnings

• There is no single cause that leads to ODD. It is likely that both biological and environmental factors play a role. Environmental factors that may play a role include divorce, death or other loss of family member, or family disharmony. Obviously, many children experience these things and do not develop ODD, but these are some life events that may play a role in its development.