Child behaviour An initiative has been launched to help children who suffer from emotional and behavioural problems.
The Incredible Years Programme, in Clondalkin, provides training and support for parents and teachers of children aged between two and 10 suffering from emotional and behavioural difficulties (EBD).
"In extreme cases children who suffer EBD are usually those whose parents may have gone through an acrimonious break-up and the child suffers or the parents have poor parenting skills which may also affect the child's behaviour. The child may throw tantrums or have low self-esteem or difficulty interacting with other children," according to Margaret Maher, educational co-ordinator of the programme.
Children with severe EBD who are left untreated can become criminals or drug addicts in later life. She said: "There is a vast amount of evidence through US research to show that children who do not receive treatment can become drug addicts or get involved in criminal activity, or suffer relationship break-ups."
The programme can benefit all children, not just those suffering extreme behavioural problems. Children can show signs of difficult behaviour at various stages of their development.
"All children go through emotional and behavioural difficulties. Children go through terrible twos tantrums, troublesome fours or meddlesome sixes." according to Sean McDonnell, development worker with the programme.
The programme provides practical training for parents to enable them to deal with their child's behaviour.
"Parents are trained for up to two hours per week. They develop a set of skills and strategies with which to deal with their child. They have to examine the way they interact with the child and they say it works," said Ms Maher.
Strategies such as positive praise and plenty of attention are employed to help the child behave better. Mr McDonnell said: "Children need a great deal of attention so it's important to give them positive attention to counteract their negative behaviour."
One parent found that the programme provided her with the right techniques to deal with her five-year-old son.
She said: "My son was throwing tantrums and having problems at school, he wasn't interacting or making friends. Before I attended the course I thought I was a good parent but I discovered that I wasn't interacting with my child enough.
"The course teaches you to have play sessions every day to develop your child's social and language skills. You learn how to praise and reward your child properly," she said. His behaviour has improved and he no longer has tantrums, she said.