Dr. Dr. Ovid, pediatrician neurologist, warning of
a silent tragedy that is growing today in our homes.
There is a silent tragedy that is growing today in
our homes, and is about our most beautiful jewelry: our children. Our children
are in a devastating emotional state! Over the past 15 years, researchers have
given us increasingly alarming stats on a steady and acute increase in
childhood mental illness now reaching epidemic proportions:
Stats don't lie:
• 1 out of 5 children have mental health issues
• A 43 % increase was seen in ADHD
• A 37 % increase in adolescent depression has been
observed
• A 200 % increase in the suicide rate among
children aged 10 to 14 years has been observed.
What is going on and what are we doing wrong?
Today's children are over-stimulated and
over-donated with material items, but they are deprived of the foundations of a
healthy childhood, such as:
•
Emotionally available parents
•
clearly defined limits
•
responsibilities
•
Balanced nutrition and adequate sleep
•
Movement in general but especially outdoors
•
Creative game, social interaction, informal gaming opportunities and spaces for
boredom
Instead, these last few years have been filled to
the children of:
• Digitally distracted parents
• Indulgent and permissive parents who let children
′′ rule the world ′′ and be the ones who set the rules
• A sense of law, to deserve everything without
winning it or being responsible for getting it
• Inappropriate sleep and unbalanced nutrition
• A sedentary lifestyle
• Endless stimulation, tech nannies, instant
gratification and no boring moments
What to do?
If we want our children to be happy and healthy
individuals, we need to wake up and get back to basics. It's still possible!
Many families see immediate improvements after weeks of following
recommendations:
• Set boundaries and remember you are the captain
of the boat. Your children will feel safer knowing you are in control of the
rudder.
. • Give children a balanced lifestyle filled with what children need, not
just what they want. Don't be afraid to say ′′ no ′′ to your kids if what they
want isn't what they need
• Provide nutritious food and limit junk food.
• Spend at least an hour a day outdoors doing
activities such as: Cycling, hiking, fishing, bird / bug watching
• Enjoy a daily family dinner without smartphones
or technology that distracts them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLsSy64xILI&ab_channel=SuperAds
• Play family board games or if kids are too small
for board games, get down on the floor and play with them.
• Involve your children in a home stain or stain
depending on their age (folding clothes, order toys, hanging clothes, unpacking
supplies, setting table, feeding dogs etc. The whole world
• Implement a consistent sleep routine to make sure
your child sleeps long enough. Hours will be even more important for school age
children.
• Teaching responsibility and independence. Don't
protect them too much from frustration or error. Being wrong will help them
develop resilience and learn how to overcome life's challenges,
• Don't load your kids backpack, don't carry your
backpacks, don't take the stain they forgot, don't peel their bananas oranges
if they can do it from themselves same (4-5 years). Instead of giving them the
fish, show them to fish.
• Teach them how to wait and delay gratuity.
• Provide opportunities for ′′ boredom ",
because boredom is the moment creativity wakes up. Don't feel responsible for
always keeping kids entertaining.
• Don't use technology as a cure for boredom, nor
offer it at the first second of inactivity.
• Avoid using technology during meals, in cars,
restaurants, shopping centres. Use these moments as opportunities to socialize
by thus training the brains to function when they are in mode: ′′ boredom ′′
• Help them create a ' Bottom of Boredom ' with activity
ideas for when they're bored.
• Be emotionally available to connect with children
and teach them self-regulation and social skills:
• Turn off phones at night when kids need to go to
bed to avoid digital distraction.
• Become an emotional regulator or coach of your
children. Teach them to recognize and deal with their own frustrations and
anger.
• Show them to salute, take tricks, share without
staying without anything, say thank you and please recognize the mistake and
apologize (don't force them), be model of all these values he has instilled.
• Connect emotionally - smile, kiss, kiss, tickled,
read, dance, jump, play or gate with them.
Article written by Dr. Luis Rojas Marcos,
psychiatrist.
