Parents want their children to grow up to be well-adjusted, fully functioning, and healthy members of society. Behavioral health is a significant factor in reaching that goal. It’s important to pay attention to your child’s behavior patterns now so that they can be modified as needed to ensure normal development. Dr. Errol Douglas at Gold Pediatrics is a pediatrician who is committed to helping patients with child behavior issues at his Rockville, MD doctor’s office.

Why It’s Important To Pay Attention to Your Child’s Behavior

It isn’t a realistic expectation that parents will be able to keep an eye on their child’s every moment and movement, especially if they are school-aged. However, making every effort to pay attention to your child’s behavior will help prevent any major issues from developing. A behavioral problem can affect a child’s ability to learn and grow in a healthy way. Abnormal behavior patterns can also put the child’s overall safety at risk if they aren’t managed properly.

Ways to Monitor Your Child’s Behavior

• Make it a habit to set aside special time with your child each day to play together, laugh, and talk about how the day went. Ask specific questions about their interactions and feelings. Sometimes a child can adjust better with more time spent with parents and loved ones.
• Visit Dr. Errol Douglas for an initial evaluation and observation of possible child behavior concerns at his Rockville, MD office.

Solutions for Child Behavioral Problems

If you notice anything out of the ordinary with your child’s behavior, talk to your pediatrician about it at your next well visit. Common solutions for behavioral problems include:

• Testing and evaluation to rule out any possible medical conditions.
• Talk therapy or referral to another medical specialist if needed.
• Medications to manage mood and activity.
• Consider parent behavior therapy. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology found this to be a very effective solution to child behavior problems.

Get Ahead of Any Potential Issues

It’s best to be as honest as possible with your pediatrician about your young one’s behavior and needs, because the sooner the potential issue is addressed, the higher the likelihood it can be resolved. Call (301) 517-9710 today to schedule a child behavior appointment with Dr. Douglas at Gold Pediatrics in Rockville, MD.