Faux ADHD
According to a study published in the American Journal of Family Therapy (September, 2011), researchers have identified a syndrome of daytime behaviors that imitate Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) but seem linked instead to a lack of consistent bedtime routines and not to a child's brain chemistry.
Researchers in New England studied hundreds of families and found that children who did not regularly sleep in their own beds:
- Exhibited ADHD-like behaviors seven times more often than children who always slept in their own beds, and
- Hit, pushed, or kicked their parents thirteen times more often than children who always slept in their own bed.
In addition, children who did not have a regular bedtime:
- Exhibited ADHD-like behaviors eight times more frequently than children who had a consistent bedtime, and
- Hit, pushed, or kicked their parents ten times more frequently than children who had a consistent bedtime.
Erratic nighttime behavior is clearly associated, for some children, with disruptive daytime behavior. If your son or daughter shares some of the symptoms typically regarded as part and parcel of ADHD, have a look at their bedtime routines. If where they sleep and when they go to sleep vary from one night to the next, consider making the changes that bring consistency and predictability into their nocturnal lives. You may be surprised at the difference it can make.
If your children have trouble settling down at bedtime and can't seem to be able to quiet their minds at that time of the day, read "Now I Lay Them Down To Sleep" for some valuable suggestions.