General Principles of Discipline Most children need to be given consistent, clear rules and expectations about behavior. Discipline needs to begin as soon as the child is mobile—pulling up and crawling. Relationship Development Adolescent attention often shifts to a more intense focus on social interactions and friendships expanding from same sex friends to same sex groups of friends to heterosexual groups of friends. Help Your Children Chill Out Kids must cope with all the issues, such as violence or global warming, that stress out adults. But they must also handle stresses added by their parents and the media. The Trouble with Bullies Bullying comes in different forms. It is commonly thought of as an actual or threatened act of physical violence. But name calling, spreading rumors, unrelenting teasing, and deliberately excluding a child from an activity can be other forms of bullying. Racial slurs, mocking cultural traditions, and unwanted physical contact are bullying. Lying and Stealing Lying and stealing are common, but inappropriate, behaviors in school-aged children. Most of the time these behaviors will be outgrown. Time-Out Detailed information on child discipline and time-out Temper Tantrums These fits of rage—the stomping, screaming, and falling on the floor—are a normal part of childhood development. Temper tantrums often occur only with a parent. They are a way for the child to communicate his or her feelings. Mood Disorders Parents may miss the signs of depression in a teen. Or, they may believe their child will “snap out of it” eventually. But if left untreated, depression can worsen. Anxiety Disorders Anxiety about school is a normal part of childhood development, but sometimes the symptoms of anxiety are more severe. Eating Disorders Anorexia and bulimia are much more common in girls than in boys, but both genders are at higher risk in certain sports that emphasize thinness or that have weight restrictions. Developmental Disorders ADHD is one type of behavior disorder, affecting about 2 million children in the United States. Mental Health Evaluation A child, who has sleep disturbances, is hyperactive, or refuses to go to school may need to be evaluated for an emotional, behavioral, or developmental problem.