Normal emotional development and behavior in Children.

It is helpful to have an idea of how your child's behavior may change as he or she develops, so that you can recognize what is normal and when you should be concerned.

Many types of normal behavior can be problematic, and your tolerance levels for these may vary more with your mood than with the child's behavior itself. A good understanding of normal difficult behavior can help you respond appropriately and more sensitively to your child at the time when he needs you most.

Children are not all the same. All children vary and develop in their own way. Your child may be difficult from his peers, but whether he is considered normal will depend on the expectations of those around him. A typical "geek" or "bookworm" may be bullied in a non-academic environment or highly valued in an intellectual one. A child who is more interested in football than work may be seen as a hero in a local community, even if he cant sit still in class, and yet would be deemed a failure in a strict academic school or family.



A change of environment may be the solution if your child is not tolerated for being different. It is up to you to encourage your child to take pride in what he is capable of and to praise him consistently for any achievements, whether they happen in football or maths.

What is considered to be 'normal' will vary not only from one child to another, but also from one family or culture to another. If your child is from a different culture or background from his peers, she may be less tolerated simply because of that difference. In some cultures and families, behavior that is accepted as normal in a boy would not be acceptable in a girl.
Boys may be 'macho', aggressive and dominant, whereas girls may be "expected" to be submissive, caring and obedient.

Increasingly, today, families are more mobile and more multi-ethnic. They are less likely to have a support network, and more likely to be exposed to cultural differences. In the context, especially if you have moved to a new area, your child may be different from his peers and be teased as a result. She will almost certainly want to be like all the others and may put herself down for being different. It is up to you to encourage her to be proud of how and whom she is.