woman is forced to call in parenting experts over her six-year-old daughter's rages that see her slap, kick and SWEAR at her own mother
Demi would lash out at her mother Lisa kicking and slapping her with her grandmother Sharon having to break up the outbursts
A single mother desperate to get her violent six-year-old daughter under control was finally able to take charge thanks to the help of an expert child psychologist.
Lisa, 29, who lives with her parents in Oldbury, Birmingham, had struggled with daughter Demi's vicious outbursts, and would regularly be on the receiving end of kicks, slaps, punches and hair pulling at the hands of her angry child.
Lisa's mother Sharon, 57, had to constantly intervene to break the pair up - despite regularly being subjected to Demi's vicious temper herself.
At the end of their tether with Demi - who understood she had a 'naughty side' - Lisa sought help from Laverne Antrobus in Channel 5's Violent Child, Desperate Parents, who told the single mother she needed to have the confidence to be more firm with her little girl.
Lisa, 29, who lives with her parents in Oldbury, Birmingham, had struggled with daughter Demi's vicious outbursts, and would regularly be on the receiving end of kicks, slaps, punches and hair pulling at the hands of her angry child.
Lisa's mother Sharon, 57, had to constantly intervene to break the pair up - despite regularly being subjected to Demi's vicious temper herself.
At the end of their tether with Demi - who understood she had a 'naughty side' - Lisa sought help from Laverne Antrobus in Channel 5's Violent Child, Desperate Parents, who told the single mother she needed to have the confidence to be more firm with her little girl.
Laverne warned that Sharon's involvement was confusing for Demi, as there was no 'clear marked line' about who was in charge in the household. She advised Lisa to use negotiating techniques with her little girl, offering her alternatives when she has a tantrum, rather than further provoking her anger by saying 'no'.
Mum calls for help over six-year-old daughter’s violent rages
Mum calls for help over six-year-old daughter’s violent rages
Six-year-old Demi believed she had a good and bad side and when she lashed out it was when 'naughty Demi' was present
Lisa and her Demi's grandmother Sharon (left) were at the end of their tether with the youngster and wanted to put a stop to her behaviour
Laverne was keen to understand what the triggers were behind Demi's violent outbursts and visited the family over a period of days to monitor the child's behaviour.
Lisa said of Demi's split personality: 'She can be absolutely lovely and give you the most wonderful loves, kisses, hugs then she can just change in seconds.'
The mother recalled Demi pulling her hair, slapping, kicking, punching, dragging her around the room, giving her a black eye as well as throwing things around the house.
How do you negotiate with a child?
On Violent Child, Desperate Parents, expert Laverne Antrobus advised a desperate mother to avoid saying 'no' to her six-year-old daughter, who experiences violent rages, and negotiate instead.
So how do you successfully negotiate with a young child?
Experts advise being open to the way in which a child fulfills a request, as most will be more co-operative when permitted some choices.
For example, rather than saying 'put on your shoes now', try 'would you like to put your shoes on first, or your jacket?'
Laverne told Lisa she was 'allowing' her daughter Demi to lash out at her, and told she needed to have the confidence to be firm with her child.
'It’s like somebody turns the switch on and somebody else comes, what she calls the “bad Demi”.
'We have asked her does she know the “bad Demi” is coming and she’ll say no,' Sharon explained.
During a particularly difficult tantrum where Demi was told she wasn't allowed sweets before dinner she ended up grabbing her mother's hair, only letting go when Sharon became involved.
But Laverne said that it was the grandmother's involvement that was confusing the youngster.
'I can see there isn’t a very clear marked line about who is in charge in the household in terms of the adults, is it mum that takes the firm line and sees that through or is it nanny? I think if I’m confused then Demi is going to be confused,' she said.
Laverne spoke with Demi who said she was aware of her behaviour: 'It's the "naughty Demi". "Naughty Demi" gets through a gap through the back of my head and she pulls mummy’s hair, bites her, kicks her, scratches her, swears at her.
'Sometimes I wish I could kill her (naughty Demi), but there’s no way to kill her. She's horrid,' the little girl added.
When Lisa would ask Demi to take a time out she would still try to attack her mother who tried to calm her down
During one outburst Demi hit her mother with her grandfather's walking stick as he watched on unable to help
Lisa and her Demi's grandmother Sharon (left) were at the end of their tether with the youngster and wanted to put a stop to her behaviour
Laverne was keen to understand what the triggers were behind Demi's violent outbursts and visited the family over a period of days to monitor the child's behaviour.
Lisa said of Demi's split personality: 'She can be absolutely lovely and give you the most wonderful loves, kisses, hugs then she can just change in seconds.'
The mother recalled Demi pulling her hair, slapping, kicking, punching, dragging her around the room, giving her a black eye as well as throwing things around the house.
How do you negotiate with a child?
On Violent Child, Desperate Parents, expert Laverne Antrobus advised a desperate mother to avoid saying 'no' to her six-year-old daughter, who experiences violent rages, and negotiate instead.
So how do you successfully negotiate with a young child?
Experts advise being open to the way in which a child fulfills a request, as most will be more co-operative when permitted some choices.
For example, rather than saying 'put on your shoes now', try 'would you like to put your shoes on first, or your jacket?'
Laverne told Lisa she was 'allowing' her daughter Demi to lash out at her, and told she needed to have the confidence to be firm with her child.
'It’s like somebody turns the switch on and somebody else comes, what she calls the “bad Demi”.
'We have asked her does she know the “bad Demi” is coming and she’ll say no,' Sharon explained.
During a particularly difficult tantrum where Demi was told she wasn't allowed sweets before dinner she ended up grabbing her mother's hair, only letting go when Sharon became involved.
But Laverne said that it was the grandmother's involvement that was confusing the youngster.
'I can see there isn’t a very clear marked line about who is in charge in the household in terms of the adults, is it mum that takes the firm line and sees that through or is it nanny? I think if I’m confused then Demi is going to be confused,' she said.
Laverne spoke with Demi who said she was aware of her behaviour: 'It's the "naughty Demi". "Naughty Demi" gets through a gap through the back of my head and she pulls mummy’s hair, bites her, kicks her, scratches her, swears at her.
'Sometimes I wish I could kill her (naughty Demi), but there’s no way to kill her. She's horrid,' the little girl added.
When Lisa would ask Demi to take a time out she would still try to attack her mother who tried to calm her down
During one outburst Demi hit her mother with her grandfather's walking stick as he watched on unable to help
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