Just like any other change in these little folk’s life, Spring may bring behaviour challenges to your home. Here are a few insights to keep you one step ahead:

Welcome to silly season.

By Terri Mauro, About.com

The same, for parents
Kids aren’t the only ones to react to these springtime stressors. Parents do, too. If you’re suffering from allergies, feeling the changes in weather, going crazy with closet changes, agonizing over the way your spring clothes fit, getting caught up in vacation plans, worrying about what to do with your child over spring break, all of these things will up your stress level and lower your levels of patience, understanding, and time to spend with kids. Your child is likely to react to that very, very badly. Stop and take a look at whether your stress may be contagious. And then smell the flowers. Help your child smell them, too.

Wacky kid behavior often comes in waves. If spring has brought on a bad case of the sillies for your special child, here are some possible explanations — and what to do about them.

Allergies
Your child may not have the body awareness or language skills necessary to explain to you about the tingle in his nose or the pressure in her sinuses, but the lightheadedness and “spacey” feeling that often accompanies allergies can leave kids feeling distracted and disoriented. If itchy eyes, sniffles or headaches accompany the onset of silliness at your house, check with your pediatrician about the possibility of an allergy diagnosis.

Weather
The wild swings in weather that often come with the onset of spring can represent a disruption of routine for kids who are sensitive to change. Changes in climate can bring changes of air pressure that can have a kid feeling out of sorts for no good reason, too. Long days of rain and the lack of outdoor play that brings can make kids antsy, and staring out a classroom window at a beautiful sunny day can make them restless. Try to keep routines as consistent as possible, and have a stash of fun rainy-day activities at hand. [click to continue…]

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