Many parents may notice that as soon as the good weather arrives, the behaviour of their children changes: they sleep less, they show irritability, nervousness, lack of interest and some even stop eating. This is a clear case of "spring asthenia".
Up until a few years ago, it was thought that this only affected adults, but the truth is that children and teens are especially sensitive to the changes in schedule, climate and light hours that come along with Spring.
The heat and weariness combined with the stress that comes with the end of a school year (if they have exams it can even turn into anxiety). In some cases, this is aggravated by a physiological response from our bodies: the "biological clock" reacts to environmental changes segregating serotonin, the hormone that determines our sleep cycles.
Asthenia shouldn’t last longer than 15 days, and if it does it’s probably some kind of complication after a cold, gastroenteritis or even allergies. In these cases, it’s advisable to consult a specialist.
As we can see, resting, being in a calm environment and a healthy diet are the most important things to keep in mind if we notice asthenia in our children.
It’s very important that they sleep soundly for 11 hours per day, which is the quantity recommended by the World Health Organization. We know it’s hard to send a child to bed if the sun hasn’t set, but it’s essential for their health.
We’ve mentioned that a healthy diet is also a fundamental part of fighting Spring asthenia. During its course, it’s very important that the child is not lacking any vitamins: everyday, they should drink a few fruit juices with honey, as it keeps the vitamins longer.
Understanding the symptoms and knowing some tips and tricks will help us to deal with this disorder. Nevertheless, and as we always say, we mustn’t forget that consulting a specialist is probably the best option.