An example of delayed development becoming a problem is in preteen children who show signs of ODD (Oppositional Defiance Disorder). Some children around six or seven years old behave in a hyperactive manner and become unruly and disobedient. Then at about eight or nine years of age this behavior dies off and they become normal children again.

This dysfunctional behavior can be explained by the child being stressed by school before they are ready, as they have not completed their development to the level of their peers. This behavior would then be a type of self defense coping mechanism. When the development phase has been completed the child calms down as s/he can then cope.

this seems so true of my DD