Homoeopathy is a unique and wonderful therapy that deserves infinite appreciation not because it cures many ailments but it changes the attitude, behavior and tendencies of children. If children are ignored, they become obstinate and it is homoeopathy that brings them back to the status of normal children.

In more than seventy percent of cases children are brought before in the regime of homoeopathic treatment when they have been treated with conventional medicines. When parents experience that their child is having frequent bouts of cough, cold or fever, when children do not want to take bitter liquids and syrups especially when they see their friends taking sweet pills in class room, both parents and children think of homoeopathy. This is how homoeopathy has paved a new trek. I assure you if children develop a liking for homoeopathy, probably due to sweet pills and no injection, the time ahead for homoeopathy is good. Catching the children and catering them with sweet pills is a life- long contract with homoeopathy.

When parents report about the frequent ailments of their children they never fail to tell everything concerned with disease. There comes the revelation about temperament of the child. The anger, behavior and the obstinacy are common features of the children. It is not expected by the parents that the whole temperament of the child will change along with other diseases.

Behavior is totally changed after they are put on homoeopathy. No other system of medicine is capable of changing behavior, attitude and temperament. The common complaint given by parents is that the child is very obstinate and irritable. Who is an obstinate child? Obstinate is one who cannot be persuaded, influenced or overcome. Obstinacy is developed in three conditions, mental turbulence, physical discomfort and diseases brought in by birth. If newborn is irritable and weeps without cause, it may be due to cerebral defect, born with surgical help or lack of oxygen in blood (anoxia). Such physical disorganization can lead to different attitudes including obstinacy after the child attains the age of two or more years. Let us have a look at various reasons of indifferent attitudes of children:

Upbringing of a child has a direct bearing on the child’s mode of thinking and psychology.  If the child lives in a combined family with grandparents and other members, the child feels secured. He is very free and liberal in his expressions and almost away from irritable behavior. If he expresses anger or behaves in different way or expresses obstinacy, there are people around to love and make him understand. If parents tend to beat them or if they speak harshly with children, there are grand parents and others to protect them. This sort of atmosphere will not make child irritable or obstinate. In nuclear families, children are prone to become obstinate due to above missing links. If father is away to office and mother scolds the child, there is no emotional backup for the child. This is most temporary phase as no mother or father is enemy of child but it has great concern with the sentiments of child. Children are very delicate and sensitive by nature. They get easily offended and easily captivated by love as well.

Parents desire that their child should behave nicely with guests. If child does not wish the guests, exhibit shyness or misbehave at the time of serving tea etc. to the guests, parents either scold them in the presence of guests or after the guests leave the house. Scolding and guiding are different. A learned guidance with love is the way out to deal with such situations. Reprimanding in presence of guests lowers the respect of child and in turn the child ‘enacts’ strong headedness. If this type of scolding before the outsiders continues, the child leaves ‘acting’ and actually becomes obstinate. Children should never be scolded in presence of outsiders.

In a joint family there are other situations as well. Parents expect their wards to show respect to the elders in the house. They want that their children should bid 'good morning' or 'Ram Ram' etc. and bow to the elders for blessings. Children are simple and innocent in their actions. They will follow this for some days and then forget it. They are very good observers. When they see that their parents do not touch the feet of their elders or bid them 'good morning', they follow the same. On this situation, if parents reprimand them, this is injustice to them. Parents have no right to expect the things they themselves shun. If they insist the same under the background of punishment, they become obstinate. They hear every word of parents but would not follow them.

Here is another situation. The parents fight with each other on petty matters. They express their anger and even threaten to leave the house and all this is done in the presence of children. They fight with each other and tell lies but expect their children not to fight or tell lies. Poor children are unable to understand policy of parents and become angry. They would not follow the instructions of parents and tend to leave the house in accordance with what they see in the family.

Children who are left in crèche in the very young age or are sent to boarding schools in early childhood develop a different behavior. They think that they are unwanted at home and parents do not love them. The result is that they turn hostile, remain quiet and busy themselves with computer, books or other indoor games. When interrupted by parents to finish above games etc, they would loose their patience and shout to show anger. They will also say that the parents do not love them.

There is another situation. Children want attention for whatever they do. When father is back at home, child demands more of attention from him and if it is not there or there is little attention due to tiredness and other domestic reasons, the child is disappointed. Many fathers even scold their children when they enter the home because their boss in the office had scolded them. All this is to draw due attention. If it is lacking, the children become obstinate and arrogant. Give the children proper attention.

If demand by children for toys, picture books, new school bags etc is not met with inspite of several requests, the child will tend to shout and order for things instead of requests. He will not eat, he will not play and he will weep till his demand is fulfilled. Sometimes, the demand is not justified. In such cases, the parents should make children understand the circumstances and reasons for not fulfilling the demands. Parents should be alert to probe into the justified demands of children and its utility. If the demand is of no utility, it should be refused. For example, if the child demands a costly remote toy car, parents can refuse it. Child can be made to understand that the car would need frequent change of battery and has no guarantee of its working. In its place, parents can get the child some game having utility and learning. Parents should promise children for good games and toys after each accomplishment made in good direction by the child. The child thus realizes the efforts he or she has to make to get a toy. Promise a picnic, a movie or an eating-place child likes when the child fulfills the moral motive desired by parents. When the child is bored at home during holidays, an outing can be promised with some conditions to be laid down by parents. Children must realize that he or she has to earn rewards for good deeds.

When the children are not willing to go to school and weak in study, parents should probe into the reasons by contacting teachers. A monthly dialogue between parents and teachers is a better way to know the reason for his not going to school and lack of interest in studies. Some schools have student counselors who guide the students when contacted.

Besides the psychological reasons, there are physical reasons also for the child to behave in a different manner. The child might be anemic, weak or infested with worms. Urinary tract infection or enuresis may also irritate him. A regular health check is essential in such cases. A sick and unhealthy body always troubles the mind that reflects with irritability.

How homoeopathy helps?

Chamomilla is supposed to be best remedy for obstinate children. Child demands many things but refuses when given. He is always complaining, impatient, restless and irritable.

Phosphorus child is ill tempered and will shoe his rage. He does not go well with other children and fights with them. If his demand were not met with, he would lock himself in the kitchen or toilet room. He has great fear of darkness.

Nux vomica child is obstinate, violent and suspicious. He is easily offended. He cannot stand noises and light and is very sensitive. He does not want to be touched.

Cina child is ill humoured and cross. He also desires many things but rejects when offered. In sleep, he gets on hands and knees and sleeps on abdomen. He grinds teeth during sleep and has night terrors, talks in sleep and puts his fingers in nose.

Natrum Mur children are afraid of worms, birds and animals. They suck thumbs and bite nails. They like salt very much. They are not very obstinate but ill tempered. They would agree to obey parents if parents become emotionally attached to them and offer them lot of love.

Nitric acid children crave for indigestible things like chalk, earth, paper, pencil ends etc. They are irritable, hate children of lower class and are vindictive besides that they are headstrong. They are mostly of dark complexion.

Argentum nit children are very obstinate and do not agree to what their parents suggest. Like phosphorus, they want everything cold and feel suffocated in warm room. They crave sweets.

Tubercullinum children are ill behaved and obstinate. They would kick anything offered and would not make a smiling face. Anger is always on their faces. When punished, they would weep loudly and show violent anger with abuses.