Problems in Child Behavior and Development

While parents primarily want a pediatrician who is readily available for and competent in the early recognition and treatment of physical disease, they increasingly come to the physician not only because of illness but because they want his guidance in keeping their children healthy. They wish to discuss with him concerns about problems in child care and rearing, for example, discipline, sleep and schooling. The pediatrician must be prepared to recognize and cope with psychologic problems whether they be concomitants of retardation, epilepsy, congenital anomalies or brain damage; psycho-physiologic symptoms such as nervousness, headache, abdominal pain, obesity, enuresis or hypochondriasis; problems associated with age periods such as learning difficulties; or problems that may arise in relation to adoption, death and divorce. He has the opportunity to help parents feel more sure about themselves and more satisfied in their parental role.