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Mystery Solved! A Parent Detective's Checklist for Figuring Out What's Wrong With the Kids |
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by jenlemen  (November 2006) (rank 15th) |
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You know how it goes. Your angel child is suddenly acting like a little devil, and it's all you can do to keep from losing your cool. When everything seems to be falling apart, it's easy to attribute my children's antics to general bad behavior and stop the guessing game
right there. But a little slething usually reveals a problem with a solution just minutes away. Here's a mini-checklist to help you uncover the real scoop before things get out-of-control:
- Is my child hungry/thirsty? Whiny kids just might be dehydrated or half-starved. Get everyone well-fed, snacked and watered before assuming the worst. Some kids really cannot deal once they experience a plunge in blood sugar levels.
- Is my child worn out or in need of more sleep? Every year we do a little internet search to find out how many hours of snooze time each kid needs at their new age. Just knowing we need to shoot for x amount of hours helps me make sense of the sleep deprived madness if things start to veer off course.
- Is my child hot/cold? I have a little pre-school friend who could not be more miserable when bundled up. Her little body temperature always runs hot, so too many layers make her cranky. Pay attention to your child's unique temperature requirements, and dress accordingly.
- Is my child sick? I was convinced Madeleine was losing her mind this last weekend until she fell ill a few days later. Extreme uncooperative and loud behavior is almost always a sign that she's not feeling up to snuff. How about your kids?
- Has my child recently been through a dramatic change in routine? It took me a long time to realize that I couldn't expect my kids to be unaffected by long car rides, air travel or three nights out in a row during the holidays. Some kids absolutely cannot keep it together when the routine goes flying out the window.
- Has my child had enough one-on-one time with me? My little guy Carter has been begging for mother-son time since the holiday company vacated the premises. I can scold him for the incessant tapping on my shoulder or realize he just might not shape up until he gets his mama fix. Consider it done, big guy.
- Is my child going through a growth burst? Studies show that kids grow in fits and starts and that crankiness is a natural byproduct of a big burst in growth. Consider stocking up on the healthy snacks and hunkering down until the worst is over. Older children will appreciate the science behind their mood swings.
- Is my child experiencing a boom in development? Kids who are learning to walk, talk, run or read may or may not be quite like themselves until they master the task at hand. It just might be that the latest in bad behavior will fade as quickly as it came once proficiency is on the scene.
- Is my child in an unfamiliar setting? My kids are never quite themselves in new surroundings. Their nervousness always translates into less than stellar behavior until they get their bearings. I've learned to provide familiar creature comforts (like books and toys) until they settle in to the new situation.
- Is my child over/understimulated? Some children act out when their bored--others when they can't bear one more sound for one more second. Take your kid's threshold for interaction seriously and plan accordingly. My resident extrovert kid gets lots of playdates while my career introvert child gets some guaranteed alone time.
- Is my child trying to tell me something? Sometimes children act out because their intuition is telling them something's not quite right. It's essential as parents that we listen when our kids are trying to clue us in on situations that feel uncomfortable or downright unsafe. I've come to realize that sometimes constant objection can be a serious request for support or intervention.
