Children can be mischievous to a certain extent. Most people enjoy their harmless mischiefs. But, there is a limit for mischief. Problems arise when a child violates this limit. All acts of mischief are not mere mischief; sometimes they can be symptoms of mental disorders.
Yes, children also experience mental disorders. For example, some children are endless chatterboxes. They create constant problems for others. Some children cannot sit anywhere; they just keep moving about here and there, climbing or jumping. Some others have no concentration; they are lazy in studies. We have also seen children who constantly annoy or harm their siblings. Although these traits can be commonly seen among children, when some of these traits are found at an extreme level, it means those children need special care. Sometimes, these traits will be a symptom of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
There are some other kinds of children who are afraid of their teachers. They are scared to go to school. Their lives will be dependent on those who are close to them. They will be extremely shy, fearful and suffering from inferiority complex. They will suddenly wake up in the middle of the night. They be-wet and will be unable to sleep properly. Children will always be worried of losing the presence, love and care of their parents. These are some of the symptoms of Anxiety Disorder.
There are some children who suffer from somnambulism or sleep walking. They inadvertently wake up during sleep and walk. Their eyes will be partially open. They will listen to what others are saying. But, once they have woken up from sleep, they will not be able to remember what happened while they sleep walked.
There are some children who frequently urinate during sleep. This happens without the knowledge of the child. This is called enuresis. Psychologists say that this happens when the child is stressful and tired. It is okay if the child is bedwetting before the age of five. But, if he/she continues to bed-wet even after the age of five or six, it is to be treated.
All these four kinds of disorders I have mentioned above have treatment and solution. Take for example, the case of a habitually bedwetting child. If he/she bed-wets due to stress, it can be cured with the help of a behavioral therapist. If it happens due to neurotic problems, you should get medical aid.
When we find our children over- mischievous, we should try to ferret out the underlying cause and seek proper solutions. Never trivialize their problem branding them as mere childhood mischiefs. Most mental disorders in children, which might cause a defective character when they grow up, can be solved and rectified if found out and solved at the right time.
