Red flag’ behaviors in children that shouldnt be…
Forget monsters under the mattress — the true nightmare may be what your child’s doing at the dinner desk, on their cellphone or when they suppose no one’s watching.
Child psychologists are warning mother and father to stop dismissing some behaviors as just “kids being kids” — because these seemingly small habits might be flashing purple flags.
Concerning habits like loss of urge for food, aggression and secret screen time may signal deeper misery — and need more than a timeout to repair, specialists say.
“These emotional and behavioral concerns need to be addressed as soon as possible so they don’t intensify throughout the years,” Dr. Regine Muradian, a licensed medical psychologist, instructed Parade in a current interview.
Dr. Carla C. Allan, division chief of psychology at Phoenix Children’s, also instructed the outlet that caregivers ought to flag “consistent developmental delays, stagnation or regression in skills or abilities” with a pediatrician.
Another digital-age hazard? When youngsters demand to go incognito online.
“If you recognize a child you care for attempts to or insists on exploring the internet unsupervised and/or in private, it is time that you engage in greater exploration of the foundation for their desire,” warned Dr. Brett Biller, psychologist and mental health director at Hackensack University Medical Center in the identical interview.
Meanwhile, if your child’s urge for food has immediately modified — don’t assume it’s a growth spurt or a choosy section.
“It can indicate problems such as distress, anxiety or an eating disorder,” Dr. Denitrea Vaughan, psychologist with Thriveworks, also revealed to the outlet.
If a child’s sneaking online solo, it’s time to dig into why they’re so determined to fly under the radar, specialists say. burdun – stock.adobe.com
Aggression, tantrums and violence are also main warning indicators. “These negative behaviors, if not addressed, can bleed into their elementary and middle school years,” mentioned Muradian.
Parents ought to also watch for foul language — particularly in group chats.
“There is much more inappropriate language, including more ableist, racially insensitive and sexually charged comments,” Litvinov mentioned.
Excessive nail-biting is one other purple flag to be on the lookout for — which is usually a signal of anxiety.
But the issue isn’t at all times just with the youngsters.
The New York Post reported on a 2024 Ohio State University research that discovered that parental burnout is instantly tied to children’s behavioral points.
Want to help your youngster? Ditch the drill-sergeant routine and sort out mendacity, nail-biting, screen time and different purple flags with cool, calm honesty. fizkes – stock.adobe.com
“We have high expectations for ourselves as parents,” mentioned research creator Kate Gawlik. “Then on the flipside, you’re comparing yourself to other people… and there’s a lot of judgment.”
Burned-out mother and father are more doubtless to yell, span or disgrace their youngsters — which only fuels the fire.
“When parents are burned out, they have more depression, anxiety and stress, but their children also do behaviorally and emotionally worse,” mentioned Bernadette Melnyk, Ohio State’s VP for health.
Experts say to keep away from panic and take issues one behavior at a time.
“Focus on one habit at a time to not overwhelm your child,” Vaughan mentioned to Parade. “Also, motivate positive behaviors by utilizing positive reinforcements, such as praise/affirmations.”
And don’t be afraid to ask for help.
“Some habits and situations require more professional help,” mentioned Vaughan. “Providers specializing in working with children and teens can help… through talk therapy [and] play therapy.”
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