Management of Conduct Problems in Young Children: A Practioner's Review

Abstract

Conduct problems in young children significantly impact families, schools and the broader community. Conduct problems usually begin at an early age and can lead to psychological distress and later maladjustment. The prevalence of conduct problems in children calls for teachers, school counsellors and other educational specialists to develop an awareness of prevention and early intervention strategies to target the onset and development of maladaptive behaviours. This paper provides a review of a number of recent treatment approaches to arrest the development of conduct problems in young children as a means of informing teachers, school counsellors and other practitioners working in educational contexts. It also delineates a number of risk and protective factors, in order to identify how existing treatment programs serve to prevent pathways to dysfunction. Finally, the paper provides recommendations for future practices in early intervention and prevention to best equip schools and families in effectively reducing the incidence of conduct problems in children.