
Some resistance to authority is normal in children. As they get older and begin to find their place in the world and learn to handle their everyday stresses in life, some misbehavior is natural.
When we’re talking about the chronically disobedient child, however, we aren’t talking about a three-year-old with occasional tantrums or a child who may not want to share their toys with other kids. Chronically disobedient means regularly balking authority or behaving in ways that consistently challenging when an adult tells them they need to do something.
When assessing if your child may be chronically disobedient, there are some things you should trouble shoot and try to find out before jumping to conclusions about a possible behavioral or other developmental condition. Examining the possible sources of this unrest, as well as it’s frequency, whether it was a sudden onset, or if things in the household may be triggering this rebellion are key to figuring out what the problem is and how to address it.