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[quote=Anonymous]One PP highlights the actual problem: they think these symptoms are character defects. Parents so easily can interpret your comments as a criticism of their parenting, or their child's character.

You need to communicate, if you communicate at all, that these are red flags for issues that a psychologist could unravel: in one easy word, autism. But also maybe anxiety, ADHD, or more serious profiles such as sociopathy (and there are an entire category of illnesses that manifest starting in adolescence, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, but not in younger children).

You are facing the same problems as teachers: you are an expert in some aspects of childhood development, but not a psychologist or psychiatrist. And so it's difficult to verbalize *which* disorder might be rearing its head, and it's difficult to even hint there is a disorder - because the parent might counter, what do you know?

But sometimes... you really have to, for the child's sake. You can start by asking if other adults around this child have voiced concerns, such as teachers or coaches or relatives. You can then factually describe, in a neutral tone, the facts you've witnessed. It's tricky to go further unless you think the child is really out of the range of normal behavior, has a developmental delay, is not meeting milestones, or is a danger to themselves or others, including animals.

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