How to Discipline a Bipolar Child

Bipolar disorder is a physiological disorder in which the patient swings uncontrolled between manic rages and depressive episodes. Though the disorder is very difficult to diagnose in children, it can be a serious issue. According to Disapedia.com, more than 50% of adult sufferers of bipolar disorder report they showed symptoms before the age of 17, and a substantial number report they showed symptoms at ages nine and younger. It can be difficult to manage a child with such wild mood swings, but proper handling of the situation is essential to the child's development.

Instructions

• 1

  Remain constantly proactive in your treatment of your child. Do not dwell on things he should not have done, or periods where his mood was poor, but keep one eye to the future. According to Patientcenters.com, being proactive is the best strategy for disciplining a child with bipolar disorder.

• 2

  Think of behavior modification as "discipline," not "punishment." Patientcenters.com reports the process is about teaching your child responsibility for all of her behavior---good and bad---not attaching a stigma to poor behavior. Thinking of the process this way will make it easier to discipline your child, as you will constantly be reminded that it is not entirely her fault.

• 3

  Keep discipline as positive as possible. For example, instead of punishing him for misbehaving, reinforce desirable behavior with something he wants in order to increase the likelihood he will continue evincing the positive behavior.

• 4

  Adapt a token economy reward system, where she learns to expect rewards for good behavior and no rewards for poor behavior as recommended by Healthyplace.com. Resist the temptation to remove potential rewards in the event she misbehaves, and keep the system as positive as possible.

• 5

  Help others close to the child to understand his difficulty. Make especially sure that adults with a close interaction with, and strong influence over, him understand the disciplinary troubles raised by bipolar disorder.