C3-Parent Compass

Understanding PDA: When Demand Avoidance Isn't Defiance

Rachel Payne

Published on: 12/02/2026

Parenting a child who resists even the simplest requests can feel isolating. But when demand avoidance is rooted in anxiety, not defiance, everything shifts. Here's what every parent needs to know about PDA — and why it changes the way we respond.