School Anxiety in Kids: What Can You Do?

It’s not just college students who have a hard time dealing with school. Kids as young as 9 years old or even younger suffer from school anxiety too but it’s not just the usual kind of sadness that these children experience that is bothersome, the psychosomatic responses are quite alarming as well.  While some complain of headaches and stomach pain some become restless and later on very violent. 

Experts say that it is safe to say that there are always those days when we didn’t like going to school and that the idea of it just made us feel really depressed or anxious. What is interesting is that, it is not just you who experienced school anxiety. In fact, most kids do not realize that their peers may be experiencing the same thing too. This is normal but in some cases, the reaction of some kids is worse than others to the point that they develop extreme anxiety. Some of them even fear going to school but the more pressing question is, what causes school anxiety in kids? When something bad is going on and kids do not want to leave home even for a minute, they have a tendency to develop a certain kind of fear of going to school. In some cases, kids who suffer from school anxiety refuse to attend classes. Experts say, when this happens, intervention from the parents will not be enough because professional help is needed.

While some kids can have a bout of anxiety at any time while they are still at school, studies show that there are certain ages where anxiety pose to be more difficult to deal with. The first grade (Grade 1) according to researchers, with its transition from half day classes to full day ones while just glued to a desk the whole day can be quite exhausting for many kids. These are the times when kids are cranky and are usually overwhelmed by the drastic change. Another potential time to watch out for for parents is Grade 7 when they move from grade school to middle school. Social problems arise at this age because kids at ages 12 to 15 are just so painfully self-conscious. This feeling has been experienced by many adults but this is aggravated because kids at this age feel that everyone is judging them 24/7. Many kids often do not attend school because they have a pimple breakout thanks to changes in their hormones i.e. puberty. The challenge at this stage is to stand out and kids would want to stand out in a good way not someone who has acne or someone who is too fat.

Peer pressure is another issue that children have to deal with at this point of their lives. Everybody seems to want to fit in i.e. by smoking, kissing someone or having a beer, etc. This social pressure is worrisome but it is part of growing up. However, once your child no longer wants to go to school because of social pressure, it is time to call for help. Psychoanalysts for children say that it could be due to fear of growing up. 

Not attending school is a side effect of anxiety but aside from peer pressure and other social problems at school, what else could cause this? Something that is happening in a child’s family can be the culprit too, experts say. This may happen when the parents file for divorce or when one parent is terminally ill. These things make kids reluctant to leave their homes in hopes that them being there will stop bad things from happening. 

Kids and Allergies: Common Causes and Relief

It can take about a year to get sensitized to allergens if you are new to the south-central US. Allergies in kids particularly those who are new in the south-central US are quite common but even if they are common, parents should still be wary of them since it can be a rather irritating experience for your child.

With so many medications for allergies now available over-the-counter without the prescription of a pediatrician, many parents treat their children’s symptoms on their own especially when their kids get these allergies on a seasonal basis.

While treating your kids can be a fine idea sometimes giving them allergy medications is not enough. This means that every time your child suffers from allergic reactions, you should definitely pay the pediatrician a visit.

Here are a few allergy treatment dos and don’t’s that parents should remember:

You should ask your child’s pediatrician regarding OTC drugs you are planning to give your child and whether this is good for him or her. This is very important if you are thinking of giving your child an OTC medication you have never given to him or her before.

The best pediatricians of Plano can work up an assessment of your child’s allergies. Doing this will also give you peace of mind because your child’s allergies will be managed by a professional. This is only important however if your child is not getting any better is not getting relief from allergy medications.

According to experts, keeping track of your child’s daily pollen counts is a good idea so that you can determine what triggers the allergic reaction and which seasons meds for such a thing should be taken.

What is Developmental Tests for Children?

As parents we all wonder what to expect with our child developmental stages. When should they start crawling, walking, talking and the other milestones we tend to concern ourselves with. Since children all development at a different pace, sometimes it's hard to compare with other children and classmates. As parents, we know our children better than anyone, if you suspect your child is not reaching their expected milestones with age appropriateness talk to your trusted pediatrician to find out about screening and testing.

There are four stages of development; infancy, preschool years, middle childhood years and adolescence. One major factor in the stages is proper nutrition, without serious problems can be caused in physical and intellectual development. One way to avoid this problem is stress the importance of breakfast, this is proven to reduce the chance significantly.

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When Should You Find a Pediatrician?

If you are expecting a baby, when should you start looking for your pediatrician? There is no set time when you should start looking for a pediatrician and everyone is different. A good time to start would be around the six month mark but, like I said there's no set time.

Many people even start searching for a local pediatrician shortly after you learn your are pregnant. If you have any friends with children, ask them which pediatrician they use. You might also ask coworkers, friends from church or even just a random mom you meet in line at the grocery store. However, remember to take all suggestions with a grain of salt. You'll hear a lot of negative comments. You might even hear a horror story or two. Try to take the advice from a friend you trust.

If you do not have any friends with kids or if you just want some additional advice, you might try to do some online research. Visit sites like Insiderpages.com and read Google Reviews. These are not always 100% accurate so take these with a grain of salt.

You will want to find a pediatrician that has a short wait time and has a good personality. It's probably best to avoid a doctor who has a reputation for very long wait times in the office. While they might be a good doctor, do you really want your sick child to have to wait for hours in the waiting room?

Another option is to ask the lead nurses at the hospital during delivery, they get the first hand experience with pediatricians and often are interacting with them continually. They will happy to review their favorite newborn pediatricians and might steer you clear of the bad ones.

A Google search will likely turn up some immediate results and you will be able to easily locate a Frisco Pediatrician in your area.

Family Practice Doctor Vs. A Pediatrician

You may have probably heard of both a family practice doctor and pediatrician but what exactly is the difference? They both treat children, teens and young adults but what makes a family practice doctor different?

A family practice doctor will specialize in various areas of medicine where a pediatrician will be very specialized in one area. Think of it this way, a family practice doctor could see your whole family and are trained in general medicine. A pediatrician will only see kids and should be seen if your child is severely ill. A pediatric doctor has the specialized training for children.

A family doctor can work in pediatrics but typically sees other types of patients other than children. A pediatrician will only see children.

I hope this clears up any confusion you may have had and for a Frisco, TX family doctor, visit the friendly docs at Hillcrest Family Medicine.

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