Temper Trantrums in My 71/2 Yr. Old

Make an appointment with a Developmental pediatrician ASAP. When typical dicipline failed, she needed you to find out why instead of doing more of the same. Find out what the barrier is and get her the treatment and intervention she has been telling you she needs for so long. Do this Monday morning. Call the nearest children's hospital and make the appointment, and ask to be put on the cancellation waiting list in hopes that you might get in sooner.

Don't blame her for this any more until you get her the help she needs.

M.

You are probably going to get a lot of advise about disciplining techniques so I am going to take a different approach. She's a middle kid and, from my experience, middle kids tend to always feel like they are never getting their fair due like the oldest gets or the baby of the family gets. What I would suggest, if at all possible, is signing the both of you up for some mom-daugther yoga classes. Not only is it a good physical outlet for pent up emotions but it teaches breathing techniques that will help her learn how to self-regulate her emotions at other times throughout the day and it will give her the special attention one-on-one attention that she may really be needing from you at this time in her life.

Of course, I do believe rules, discipline and accountability are very important to all children's development into adulthood but I trust that you will get some really great responses from some of the other moms out there so I will leave this issue to them. I just wanted to throw this particular suggestion out there for you to consider just in case it may be of some help.

Wishing you and your daughter an abundance of peace, love and happiness.

Your daughter might be blessed with some neurological deficit that makes impulse control difficult or impossible. She may have sensitivities to chemicals and additives in her environment and/or food – these can make people physically uncomfortable and grouchy or temperamental, and affect brain processes as well.

Before you explore those possibilities, consider that she could be just plain mad about something, and isn't clear enough about what that is to communicate it in a productive way. If that's the case, you might do well with a superb book that describes how to work with her compassionately and respectfully, while being clear about your own expectations and need for cooperation and respect. It gives examples for just about any parenting situation you'll find yourself facing. Parenting experts Faber and Mazlish will show you How to Talk So Kids Will Listen, and Listen So Kids Will Talk, in a clear, easy-to-read cartoon format. You and all of your children will probably be delighted this approach.