Sleep and behaviour in children

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Getting yourself and your children into a healthy sleep routine is key to improving mood and behaviour.

A study published in the July/August issue of the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics revealed the following:

A cohort study of almost 9000 preschool-aged children showed that those who averaged fewer than 9 hours of sleep per night were significantly more likely to show impulsivity, anger, and overactivity and to have tantrums than their peers who averaged more nightly sleep.  The children with less sleep were also 80% more likely to show aggression.

If your child is having behavioral issues, start moving bedtime earlier by 15 minutes each week.  If your child is having difficulty getting to or staying asleep, book an assessment and let’s work together to see what can be done.

 

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ADHD resources

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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, is amongst the mental health diagnosis that elicits strong responses.

I have a special interest in it as many of my closest friends and relatives deal with it daily (some suspect that I may as well).

ADHD is still very misunderstood.  There are still people, including physicians and educators, who ‘don’t believe in it’.  They still think that these kids and adults just need to ‘buckle down, focus, and get it done’.  They see it as an excuse for undesirable behaviour.

ADHD is a chemical disorder, not a mental disorder.  Like so many disorders in mental health, there is a physical basis for why this condition exist.  As such, there are many treatment options available.  Some treatments include behaviour modification (like sleep hygiene, mindfulness, exercise), some include discovering triggers (like food and additives) and some include chemical intervention (via supplements or medication).

ADHD is a condition with a wide array of symptom demonstration.  For some, the condition gravely affects their lives whereas for others it’s not as evident.  Either way, there is a quality of life available that these people have never experienced.

Proper diagnosis is paramount as many conditions mimic the symptoms of ADHD (such as anxiety, OCD, depression).  Once you know what you’re dealing with, then you can choose the appropriate treatment approach for you.

Remember that whether you decide that medication is right for you or not, Naturopathic Medicine approaches can help too.  Sleep, food, digestion, and supplements can all have an impact on your quality of life.  These approaches can help you get the most of your medication too.

Here a a few links that I have come across in my own exploration of ADHD.  Some I really enjoy, others are not my taste but may be yours.

If you suspect that you have ADHD or know that you do and would like to explore natural treatments, I would be thrilled to connect with you.

Yours in Health,

Kerri

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