All parents want their children to look cheerful, but the child’s character can be different. If your little one is often dumbfounded, is this something to worry about?
Have you ever found your child daydreaming while on the move? Or the teacher complains that your child is often dumbfounded during class?
Daydreaming can occur in children due to distractions in their minds, and this is normal and nothing to worry about.
Parents often feel uncomfortable when they see their children daydream and are directly associated with lower levels of intelligence. Though, that’s not necessarily the case.
However, frequent stupor can also indicate an abnormality or disease. For more details, let’s look at what causes children to often daydream so you know when to worry and can determine the next step.
Children are often dumbfounded: It can be normal, it can also be watched out for
When is dumbfounded in children still considered normal? Staring can occur in young children (toddlers) or older children (school-age children).
In toddlers, daydreaming often occurs and this is still a natural thing.
The daydream is a time of transition between one stimulation to another, or between one atmosphere and another. This is because toddler brains need time to process two different things.
At school age, children can also daydream when they are thinking, for example when doing assignments or exams.
Looking blankly in a certain direction is a way for children to recollect memories from lessons they have received previously so that they can help them answer questions correctly.
Causes of Children Often Daydreaming That Needs to be Watched
Well, if you often see your child daydreaming and supported by reports from the teacher or caregiver, there are several possible causes to watch out for.
1. Anemia Due to Iron Deficiency
If your child is often giddy and is accompanied by pale symptoms, be aware of the possibility of anemia.
Anemia in children most often occurs due to iron deficiency. In addition to forming red blood cells, iron is also very important for brain development and intelligence in children.
Iron deficiency can cause low IQ, so children will often daydream and slow to think.
Iron supplementation and a diet high in iron according to the doctor’s recommendations are the keys to overcoming anemia due to iron deficiency.
2. Absence Seizures
Most types of seizures manifest in tense and jerky movements (quickly alternating stiffness and weakness).
However, there is one type of seizure with a sign of being silent for a few seconds, then returning to normal again. These are referred to as absence seizures or absence seizures.
Absence seizures are often found in children aged 4-14 years and end at the age of 18 years. In this type of seizure, stunned can occur anytime and anywhere, with a frequency of repeated in a day.
Consultation with a pediatrician, especially the child’s neurological condition with brain wave examination (EEG), is an important key to find out if your child has an absence seizure.
3. Autism
Autism brain development disorders can also make children often Day Dreaming.
In addition, autism can show other symptoms, such as repetitive gestures, lack of eye contact, speech disorders, and preferring to play alone with an object than interacting with other people.
If you find all the signs above, immediately take your child to a pediatrician or child psychiatrist.
4. Psychological Problems
Children with mental problems such as depression or adjustment disorders may also appear to be vacillating frequently.
Children can experience psychological problems for various reasons. For example suffering from chronic illness, bullying, experiencing violence ( child abuse ), conflict in the family, and others.
In addition to frequent daydreaming, children with mental problems will also show behavioral changes. For example, being more quiet, crying often, decreasing appetite, being lazy to do activities, locking yourself in the room, and so on.
This condition should not be allowed, should immediately be examined by a pediatrician or a child psychiatrist.
In addition to consulting a doctor, there are several things parents can do to minimize their little one’s daydreaming habits, for example:
- Make sure your child gets enough rest
- Fulfill children’s nutrition every day
- Train children’s concentration, for example involving games that involve focus
- Limit screen time usage. It’s better to invite children to do physical activities outside by swimming, playing bicycles, and others
These are some of the possible reasons why children often daydream. Daydreaming or being dazed can become something normal due to distractions in the mind, so there is no need to worry.