You know how people always joke about tricking a child into going to fetch their shoes so that they can accompany them somewhere, only for the child to return and find the parent long gone? Well, some children might be adversely affected by that one single act into developing separation anxiety disorder. A condition in which a child becomes fearful and nervous of being separated from their caregiver because the child cannot ascertain if their caregiver will return or not. Listen to this episode to understand how an insecure attachment style between a child and caregiver can lead to the development of separation anxiety disorder.

Everyone worries. We all worry about one thing or another. Some days are filled with worry and others not. Worry comes accompanied with anxiety and for an average adult the anxiety can be overwhelming. Now imagine being a child whose days are filled with constant worry, worry about everything. Imagine not being able to communicate these worries and feeling trapped, overwhelmed by everything that might or might not happen to you or to the people around you. Imagine not being able to sleep because you know there’s a test that you have tomorrow or a school presentation or even a preschool recital. For a lot of children anxiety is debilitating, especially when untreated. This episodes explains what generalized anxiety disorder is, what are its symptoms (emotional, physical, behavioral and thought) and it also explains possible treatment and management options but it also provides 10 things you as a parent guardian and caregiver can do to help a child living with anxiety. Remember that anxiety in children, if left untreated, begets anxiety in adulthood.

Most children have fears, they worry, are nervous or anxious- they are also affected by the things that happen to them and around them. Even the tiny things that some people might label as unimportant. A lot of who we are is a summation of the experiences we have been through. Now imagine if as a child you had someone who understood your fears, your worries, helped you through your traumas. Do you think you would have turned out the way you have today? So here we are a generation mauled by mental illness, given an opportunity as parents, caregivers, siblings, uncles and aunts and educators to make sure the little ones of today have a better understanding of themselves. This season is for that- to create awareness and understand anxiety disorders and also to help us acknowledge that these are feelings that we are allowed to feel and process and need not suppress.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder- one of the most diagnosed disorders amongst children of school going age.

But what is it really?

Does your child attempt to play with their LEGO and instantly give up on them?

Are they hyperactive? Constantly on the go.

Do they talk about one thing and then the next in a seemingly coherent manner but the two topics don’t relate?

Has your child’s teacher complained about them not being able to finish tasks?

Daydreaming during lessons and having a blank stare? Making avoidable mistakes?

Is your child absentminded at home and forgetful of tasks that he/she has to do daily?

Do they often put on their pants or vest incorrectly because they’re in a rush to nowhere?

Do they sometimes do/say the wrong thing and are quick to say, “oh, I knew that!”, when the error is highlighted?

ADHD can also manifest as extremely sensitive emotional reaction to otherwise not serious situations.

Does your child come across as highly excitable and impulsive- not thinking through what their next move is or how a situation can end?

Well these are all signs of ADHD.

Some children will struggle so much that they cannot fall asleep at night. Because they are on the go constantly, they can be very articulate and expressive orally but struggle with things such as handwriting because such tasks require them to slow down and do things systematically.

ADHD can manifest in difference ways and no amount of “calm down” will remedy the situation. But there are things you can do to help your child.

Does your child struggle experience overwhelming sensitivity to stimuli received through their senses? Like refusing to brush their hair or wearing clothes made from certain material?

Do they have terrible melt downs in crowded areas or do you never go out to restaurants as a result of their “overreaction” to all the lights, sounds and people?

Your child might be struggling to process sensory input and that is called Sensory Processing disorder.

Some children are on the other end of the spectrum. Completely unaware of themselves, how they look or feel. Constantly needing to be hugged for pressure or to feel themselves. Playing dangerously and causing harm to themselves and others. Nope, not boys will be boys- just pure and complete disregard for danger or getting hurt.

Well, this definitely sounds like a hypo sensitive child experiencing a Sensory Processing Disorder

Does your child have difficulty interpreting the things they see? But they have perfect sight according to the optometrist

Do they find it difficult to tell the difference between shapes or patterns?

Is it difficult to find parts of a whole or a specific piece of information on a page?

Do they have strong oral response skills but struggle to answer a comprehension that they have read themselves?

Or does it seem like they have a poor memory and can never retell you what they have read? Sometimes skipping lines while reading or substituting words they don’t know in a text?

Please listen to this podcast episode.

Does your child struggle with following more than one instruction at a time? Do they often respond with “huh” or “what”? Do they struggle with hearing the difference in similar sounds like cat or cap? Have you heard of Auditory Processing Disorders? Well, Individuals with Auditory Processing Disorders struggle to understand and interpret speech. Children with APD may tune out of complex or fast-paced conversations, but not because they are rude or lazy. And, nope, there’s nothing wrong with their hearing.

Does your child appear as clumsy? Struggling to dress and feed themselves at an age where it should be quite simple to do so? Are they constantly bumping into things? Tripping over their own feet? Throwing tantrums way beyond the terrible twos? Have you heard of Dyspraxia? Do you want to know more about it? Then you’re at the right place. This episode on Dyspraxia/Developmental Coordination Disorder is just for you.

Dysgraphia- a transcription issue that makes the physical act of writing challenging. This includes pencil grip, posture, letter sizing and losing your place when writing. Individuals with dysgraphia focus so much on the actual transcription that they struggle with expression and understanding. They struggle to remember what letters look like and how they’re formed. If any of these symptoms sounds familiar then you might want to listen up.

Does your child struggle with telling time?

Do they find simple addition and subtraction tasks difficult?

Do they seem clumsy and unable to estimate how far things are and end up bumping into everything?

Do they struggle to tell their numbers apart?

This could be a math learning disability called Dyscalculia.