| different things have an impact on a child's | | | | needs discussing with your child's carers. |
| behaviour. | | | | Sensitivity to food or medicine. |
| Genes | | | | There's no doubt food can affect the way we |
| Some children are naturally more lively and | | | | feel. You may notice certain foods affect your |
| excitable than others. They may be easily | | | | child’s behaviour. If you’re |
| distracted and enjoy company rather than | | | | concerned about your child’s diet, you |
| spending time on their own. Although boisterous, | | | | should ask your GP or a dietician for advice. All |
| you’ll usually be able to control their | | | | children need a healthy balanced diet.Medicines can |
| behaviour. | | | | also affect the behaviour of some children. |
| School | | | | Some asthma medications may sometimes make |
| You may notice a change in your child's behaviour | | | | a child hyperactive, irritable or unable to sleep for |
| when she starts school. If your child has problems | | | | a short time. Travel sickness medicines and |
| learning things or is slower in picking things up, this | | | | antihistamines have the potential to make children |
| can affect her behaviour. Reading problems can | | | | either drowsy or overactive. Children may feel |
| also make it hard to complete tasks or follow | | | | irritable following vaccines or if a medicine has |
| instructions. | | | | caused a headache. If you think any medicine is |
| Parental behaviour | | | | making your child behave differently, talk to your |
| Problems are a part of everyday life, but if you | | | | GP. It may be that your child’s behaviour |
| are unhappy and absorbed in dealing with them, it | | | | is unrelated to the medicine, but if it is, your GP |
| will affect the time you spend with your child. To | | | | may be able to suggest an alternative treatment. |
| counter this, your child may try to attract | | | | Medical problems |
| attention through noisy behaviour. | | | | Certain medical conditions can affect your child's |
| If it isn’t clear to your child what is and | | | | behaviour. Epileptic seizures can cause a child to |
| isn't allowed, it can result in difficult behaviour. This | | | | become drowsy, impairing their attention. Epilepsy |
| is because rules let your child know you | | | | can also cause unusual behaviour and lead to |
| don’t like a certain type of conduct. | | | | abnormal perceptions. |
| Clear, consistent rules will help your child learn to | | | | Hearing problems such as deafness or glue ear |
| control her own behaviour. So if you're a | | | | can make it hard for a child to follow instructions. |
| two-parent family, you and your partner need to | | | | Sometimes, not hearing what's been said can be |
| agree on the boundaries. | | | | mistaken for not doing what you're told. |
| If you're a working parent, it's also something that | | | | |