The past year has been a challenge for many of us. Due to the pandemic, most of us work from home and possibly home-schooling kids while still socially distancing. Adapting to this new way of living does have some growing pains. When it comes to taking care of our little ones, we can feel overwhelmed, frustrated, and sometimes even exhausted.
Children tend to be sensitive to seasonal changes or any disruption to routine. Most of our children are distance learning, spending more time indoors, and adapting to their parents or caretaker being around all the time.
This can result in overstimulation from increased use of iPads/computers, TV, video games, different (good or bad) eating habits/schedules, and a change in sleep patterns. Children like, and need, routine. Whenever their routine changes, we may see more frequent temper tantrums, changes in sleep patterns, and digestive issues. While sometimes these incidences can be a one-off, over time, this can become a chronic issue that can perpetuate well into adulthood.
Children are fascinating to work with from an acupuncturists’ point of view. Our diagnostic skills are used first and foremost in discovering the best form of treatment. Practitioners must rely more heavily on observation, listening, and palpation. Discerning the child’s disposition is also a big part of considering the best course of action. Some kids run right into the office, instantly making themselves at home, while others hide behind their mothers, feeling very shy or even fearful. These differences among children will influence how quickly we get started with the treatment and even how we proceed. It doesn’t do much good to have a screaming child vowing never to return just as long as we get to needle them!
The beauty of using acupuncture and Chinese medicine to work with kids is that they respond so quickly to treatments, sometimes in as little as one session! The treatments we suggest will vary based on your child’s comfort but may incorporate modalities such as acupressure, shone shin, pediatric tui na, or electrostimulation. We have an entire department of our clinical team dedicated to pediatric care. You can learn more about our approach to pediatrics here, and you can schedule an appointment here.
