Parenthood has many challenges, and of course one that we often notice is that the behaviour of our children is changing, and we can’t quite understand why.
This can happen for many different reasons, and is often a sign of distress. And if there’s one thing that we don’t want, it’s our children being distressed. What’s more, if our children aren’t discussing their distress with us, it can lead to endless sleepless nights.
But what do certain behavioural changes mean when it comes to our kids?
Withdrawal and avoidance
One of the more common behavioural changes we find in our children can be seeing them become a little more withdrawn. They will seem a little distant from you and avoid discussions around topics such as school or friends.
This could be a sign that your child is being bullied and it can lead to them withdrawing from the world and their friends in order to try and cope, avoiding any contact to ensure that they aren’t picked on further.
It can be an awful ordeal for any young person to go through and it can result in severe mood changes and even feelings and anxieties that can continue into adulthood if not treated properly.
If you start to notice your child feeling a bit more withdrawn, then speak to them and try to get to the root of the problem, so any bullying can be tackled head on. Chances are, if someone’s bullying your child, they’re bullying others too.
Losing interest in old friends and hobbies
Throughout childhood, many kids will have the same friends and enjoy the same hobbies. It’s the constants in their lives and the activities they love doing. So, when all of a sudden they start showing a lack of interest in them, alarm bells can start ringing.
One of the most common reasons kids start to lose interest in things they’d previously loved and friends they’d grown up with is because they’ve fallen in with the wrong crowd and been tempted by the likes of drugs and alcohol.
This can be a hugely worrying time for a parent, particularly if substances have become a number one priority in their lives, affecting their studies, relationships and health. You need to look at tackling this swiftly, and taking a look at alcohol or drug intervention is a must to get them back on track.
Rebellion
Rebellious behaviour can occur for a number of different reasons and it is something that is worth exploring if it is out of the ordinary for them to do so.
In some instances, rebellious behaviour can occur if a child simply believes they aren’t getting enough attention from their parents, while it could also be down to anxieties around exams, depression, or at an extreme, and at its most horrific, abuse.
Whatever the reason, it needs getting to the bottom of, so if your child is acting up when they wouldn’t normally, rather than punishment it’s always worth sitting down and talking to try and identify the cause.You never know, it could well save their childhood.