When To Seek Behaviour Intervention
Annie The Nanny
When Should You Get Help for Your Child’s Behaviour?
Ah, the question that’s quietly haunted every parent at 3 a.m. while clutching a lukewarm cup of tea and wondering whether hiding in the cupboard is a viable long-term strategy.
Let me be clear right from the start:
If you’re asking this question, it’s probably time to consider behaviour intervention—even if that sounds like a big, scary phrase. It’s really just the right help at the right time.”
(And no, you’re not a failure—you’re just a parent with a small, opinionated housemate.)
“Is This Normal… or Are We Spiralling?”
Look, all kids go through weird phases. They insist on wearing a Batman costume for a year. They melt down because you sliced the toast the wrong way. They cry because they asked for a banana and then… received a banana.
That’s childhood. It’s weird and wonderful.
But then there’s the other stuff—the stuff that’s not just a phase but feels like your entire home has been taken hostage by a three-foot dictator with boundary issues.
Red Flags (a.k.a. Things That Might Make You Scream in the Bathroom)
-
Meltdowns that last longer than most romantic comedies
-
Hitting, biting, or launching sippy cups like ballistic missiles
-
Your child arguing with everything, including gravity
-
Bribery becoming your primary parenting strategy
-
You fantasize about running away to a quiet, biscuit-filled life in the Cotswolds
(or maybe a rustic farmhouse in Vermont where children politely churn butter and never talk back) -
Feeling like you have to walk on eggshells while your child marches about like they’re the king of the kitchen, issuing snack demands and shouting their manifesto over the sound of the kettle
If any of this sounds familiar… I’d say it’s time.
“But Maybe It’ll Just Sort Itself Out?”
Maybe.
And maybe one day the washing will fold itself and everyone will eat what’s on their plate without complaint.
Hope is lovely, but a plan is better.
If these behaviours have been going on for a while—or getting worse—it’s likely not just a “blip.” It’s a sign that your child’s steering the ship and you’re somewhere down in the galley bailing water.
Time to hoist the flag and reclaim the captain’s hat.
You’re Not the Problem—But You Are the Solution
You’re not broken. Your child isn’t broken. But something in the dynamic needs a little unravelling—and that’s where I come in.
I’ll help you understand what’s going on, stop second-guessing yourself, and get your home back on track.
You don’t need a sticker chart. You don’t need to “praise more.”
You need leadership, clarity, and a plan you can actually follow without Googling your sanity at 2 a.m.
Let’s Be Honest
If reading this page made you laugh… and also wince slightly in recognition, that’s a pretty good sign it’s time to reach out.
We’ll have a proper chat (I promise I’m friendly), I’ll ask loads of questions, and then I’ll build a plan tailored to your family—not something generic with vague advice and a cheery wave. Behaviour intervention doesn’t mean something’s wrong with your child—it just means things have gotten a bit off-track, and it’s time for a reset.
Sound good?
Good. Kettle on, let’s sort this.
For more articles and answers to common parenting questions, visit my advice column.
Is democratic parenting a good idea?
Check out why Annie the Nanny loves the idea of free-range parenting.
Do you wonder why child centered parenting doesn’t work the way it’s advertised.
Did you know that Annie the Nanny was on CTV mornings for years. Here’s Annie the Nanny talking in a clip about the “power of choice.”
