Parenting Children & Teens with Reactive Attachment Disorder

Parenting a youngster with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) is extremely challenging, intense and exhausting, but the rewards are equal to the difficulty of the task. Not all attachment therapists agree on the details of how to parent RAD kids, but most experts agree that “control and limit-setting” should be a primary focus. One thing that many RAD kids have in common is their extreme need to be in control of their environment and of the people in it, especially their moms and dads. When they were young kids in the orphanage or foster care, they didn't have an opportunity to complete the bonding cycle, which is where trust develops. Perhaps the move to their new adoptive home interrupted that cycle, and therefore they don't trust grown-ups to take care of them. In addition, when the grown-ups were in charge, the youngster was abandoned, neglected or possibly hurt. So these very smart kids have figured out that to feel safe, they need to be in control. But this, unfort

Does your child or teenager have Reactive Attachment Disorder? Take this test to find out: 1. Avoids or resists physical closeness and touch   Y/N 2. Bossy with peers   Y/N 3. Cannot be trusted   Y/N 4. Complains frequently    Y/N 5. Cruel to animals   Y/N 6. Destructive to self, others, and property    Y/N 7. Gorges or hoards food    Y/N 8. Has frequent or intense angry outbursts    Y/N 9. Has little or no conscience    Y/N 10. Has poor peer relationships    Y/N 11. Inappropriately demanding and clingy    Y/N 12. Indiscriminately affectionate on parents’ terms    Y/N 13. Is an angry child inside    Y/N 14. Is emotionally phony, hollow or empty   Y/N 15. Is impulsive or hyperactive    Y/N 16. Is manipulative or controlling    Y/N 17. Is oppositional, argumentative, defiant   Y/N 18. Is superficially engaging and charming    Y/N 19. Is unable to cry about something sad    Y/N 20. Lack of eye contact on parental terms    Y/N 21. Lacks cause and effect thinking

Attachment is the deep and lasting connection established between a youngster and caretaker in the first few years of life. It profoundly affects your youngster’s development and his or her ability to express emotions and develop relationships. If you are the parent of a youngster with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD), you may be physically and emotionally exhausted from trying to connect with your youngster, only to be met with opposition, defiance, or, maybe hardest of all, indifference. A youngster with insecure attachment or RAD doesn’t have the skills necessary to build meaningful relationships. However, with the right tools, and a healthy dose of time, effort, patience, and love, it is possible to treat and repair attachment difficulties.   ==> Parenting Defiant RAD Teens Understanding attachment problems and disorders— Kids with RAD or other attachment problems have difficulty connecting to others and managing their own emotions. This results in a lack of