The Happiest Toddler On The Block by Harvey Karp, M.D

1239 Words3 Pages

There are many causes on why a child or teenager may misbehave. There could be issues at home, with family, other kids, peer pressure, and the list goes on. This can affect family, friends and their own lives in a negative way. “Understanding why children engage in bad behavior is critical to curbing it”, illustrates Harvey Karp, M.D, a pediatrician and author of the book and DVD “The Happiest Toddler On The Block”. In that case, there is a lot to be learned about the cause of misbehavior.
First off, Raykeil Hiedi, a Health Source author, states “When kids are tired, hungry, or not feeling well, they get cranky and irritable”. This makes complete sense because those same factors affect us even as we grow older. As an adult, we learn how to deal with it and don’t show as much emotion.
Second, “A tired child is almost not a child but a monster waiting to spoil your plans,” says Lori Bulloch of North Salt Lake, Utah, mother of a four year old, two year old, and a four month old. “It’s worth it for me to arrange my schedule around nap times. a rested child is simply a different child.” Bulloch adds. Children who get a satisfying nap sometime throughout the day will be happier than a child who doesn’t take or receive one.
Furthermore, “Kids naturally seek attention.” states Raykeil Hiedi again. This can cause children to act out so mommy and daddy will pay attention to them. The child wants to know that their parents care about what they’re doing, even if the child acts out in a good or bad behavior.
“Young children will try out all kinds of phrases and expressions and take note of which ones get a reaction from you,” says Linda Braun, executive director of Families First, a parenting center in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Again with...

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...an see, there are many reasons why children and teenagers may misbehave. They could be tired, hungry, sick or just scared of the position they're in. There could be problems at home with family, fighting, and competition, and attention seeking within society. Children are easier to understand to why they misbehave but when it comes to teenagers it’s a little ridiculous. They will make lousy decisions that can cause a rough road ahead of them all because they want to be noticed. It’s unpleasant to see what this society has come too.

Works Cited

Karp Harvey. “The happiest Toddler On The Block.” Pediatrician.

Raykeil Hiedi. “Why Kids Misbehave”. Oct2005. Vol. 19. issue 9. p104-108. 5p. 1 color photograph

McCollum Bill. “Parenting”. Jun/Jul 2001. Vol. 15. Issue 5. p92. 5p.

Hall Edward. “Why Do They Misbehave?”. 2003. Pg 30 and 75. The Saturday Evening Post.

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