When Nasrin Khan noticed that her six-year-old son, Samuel, was always tired, she started with a sensible change: extra rest and fresh air. "I tried to give him more quiet time in the afternoon, and more outdoor play afterwards." That helped, a little, but Samuel was still draggy. "It did get in the way of everyday activities, though not extremely," says his mom.
The next step was a visit to the doctor, who discovered that Samuel was low in iron. He's now taking an iron supplement as well as getting plenty of iron in his diet, and Khan says the fatigue has improved.
Six-to-eight is "a high-energy group," notes paediatrician Michael Dickinson, of Miramichi, NB. They play hard, so of course they'll be tired after a busy day. But it's unusual to see a child this age suffer from fatigue through the day.
While some fatigue, like Samuel's, is caused by a physical condition or illness, Dickinson says that's not the most common cause. "I always tend to go back to the basics," he says. Read on for some of the causes.
Common causes
• Sleep "The obvious first place to look is if the child is getting enough sleep at night," says Dickinson. Every child is different, and some simply need more sleep than most. Is your child able to fall asleep reasonably quickly at night? Does she sleep the whole night through? Does she wake up without too much trouble in the morning? Dickinson suggests that most kids this age need about 10 hours a night, so if your child is getting much less than that and acting chronically tired, she's likely sleep deprived. If bedtime is rather haphazard in your family, a regular routine will help ensure your child gets a consistent night's sleep.
• Exercise "Children who tend to be couch potatoes will experience more fatigue than children who tend to be more active," says Dickinson. Simply put, exercise is energizing. But the flip side is also true: Children who are tired tend to avoid physical activity, so you might have to coax them with something really fun at first.
• Diet A poor diet can affect energy levels, says Dickinson. "I look for a well-balanced diet with food from each food group. I'd also look at hydration: It's important for children to drink enough water throughout the day."
Dickinson adds that children this age may not actually identify or complain about their fatigue. "It's up to the parents to look for the signs." And if your child's sleep, diet and exercise habits all check out, or the changes you make don't seem to be helping matters, it's time for a visit to your doctor. "There can be more uncommon medical reasons for the fatigue," says Dickinson.
What's so bad about being tired?
In today's world, increasing numbers of adults (many of them parents) are chronically sleep deprived. This is not a good legacy to pass on to your kids. Here's why:
• Fatigue can affect a child's school performance.
• Tired kids are less active and may also snack more to try to boost their energy, putting them at risk for weight gain and obesity.
• Tired kids tend to interact less with their peers and may become socially isolated.
• Fatigue lowers frustration tolerance, affecting kids' emotional health.
Originally published in Today's Parent September 2007. This content was current at the time of publication.
