Looking back on childhood as an adult, you might have a fairly rosy picture of it. Responsibilities were less, friends were plentiful, and you didn’t have to go to work! Yet, childhood isn’t the picnic you might remember it being. There are plenty of children who must contend with growing up; from traumatic experiences to trouble communicating to issues of self-esteem, kids have a lot to worry about!
However, many of these problems don’t have to be managed alone. Choosing counseling for your kids is a perfectly reasonable conclusion for parents to reach. But when is the proper moment to introduce your children to therapy? That can sometimes be tricky to determine. It’s best to understand the signs that your children may be mentally or physically struggling so you can take appropriate action. When that time comes, Chapin & Russell Associates can be there for you and your kids.
Have Your Kids Started to Act Out?
It’s normal for kids to get cranky and give you “lip” from time to time. However, do your children continue to experience angry outbursts or aggressive behaviors toward you and those around them? Unless there’s something actively bothering them, there shouldn’t be a reason for your kids to act out in such a manner.
Be aware of how often your children argue, get defensive, or complain. Pay attention to the focus of their anger and how they react to your comments or suggestions, as there’s likely something that’s bothering your child and causing them to act defiantly. To get to the bottom of your kids’ aggression, it can take intervention from a children’s therapist.
Do Your Children No Longer Get Excited About the Same Things?
So much is new to your children that there’s always something to get excited about! Better yet, if your child finds something they like, they can continue to derive excitement and joy. Yet, have you noticed the light in your child’s eyes to be slightly less than before when doing what they once loved?
It’s normal for kids to fall into and out of interests; after all, childhood is for getting to know yourself better. But, if there seems to be a definitive “cut-off” to the enjoyment your children once felt for something, the reason might be more than a simple loss of interest. A gradual shift in interests can be normal, but a sudden switch can signal mental health struggles might be at play.
Are Your Kids Having Trouble Socializing?
Building bonds between friends, family, and loved ones is crucial to your children’s development and well-being. Conversely, those who don’t properly socialize in childhood can grow up to have trouble with communication. Yet, socialization isn’t easy for everyone! If your child determines they aren’t very good at it, they might assume they don’t need it. This couldn’t be further from the truth.
Any number of issues can stem from a child’s inability to communicate: low self-confidence, anxiety, an inability to pick up social cues, etc. Fortunately, resolving communication matters for children is as simple as giving your child someone to talk to. That someone can be a trained mental health professional, like those at Chapin & Russell Associates.
Have Some of Your Child’s Tendencies Regressed?
As your child learns and adapts, they will ideally pick up some healthy habits and positive tendencies. Things like wetting the bed or throwing temper tantrums become a thing of the past! However, have you ever seen or had a child who has completely regressed to habits they had once unlearned or gotten past? It’s entirely possible.
Child regression is an unfortunate phenomenon and one that risks pushing your kid’s progression back. Regression can be as simple as a reoccurrence of bed-wetting, or be more complicated like physical or speech regression, causing your child to forget essential speaking and movement skills. Fortunately, as common as regression can be, it’s something children’s therapists have plenty of experience addressing.
Do Your Children Struggle with School?
Not every child can get perfect grades for every test and assignment. They’re not robots, after all! However, there might be a clear line between your child learning and adapting or not understanding school. Sometimes your child faces educational challenges that a parent can’t discern just by looking.
Often, a child’s ability to learn and focus can be inhibited by factors like anxiety, depression, learning disabilities, a lack of socialization, and more. If something specific prevents your children from achieving their academic pursuits, discussing such challenges with a therapist can help get to the root of a problem and allow your children to learn valuable coping skills.
What Are Some Other Signs?
Of course, these are only some of the more common reasons parents might wish to seek therapy for their children. The simple truth is, if you feel your child is struggling in any way, be it academically, socially, physically, or mentally, talking to a therapist is never a bad idea. Here are a few more signs of children in need of therapy intervention:
- Persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety, or irritability
- Sudden changes in behavior
- Difficulty concentrating
- Being afraid or avoidant without a clear cause
- Physical complaints like headaches or stomachaches
- Engaging in or expressing thoughts of self-harm
- Difficulty coping with significant life changes
No matter what seems to be troubling your children, know they don’t have to suffer through it alone. With your support (as their parents) and guidance from a counselor, your kids can overcome and adapt to whatever life throws their way. Give your children a fighting chance at success with guidance from the mental health professionals at Chapin & Russell Associates. Learn more or schedule an appointment with one of our children’s therapists by calling 309-886-9217.
