Moms and dads shouldnt ignore these scary red flag behaviors in their kids, psychologists warn

Forget monsters under the bed — the real nightmare might be what your kid’s doing at the dinner table, on their phone or when they think no one’s watching.Child psychologists are warning parents to stop brushing off some behaviors as just “kids being kids” — because these seemingly small habits could be flashing red flags.Concerning behavior like loss of appetite, aggression and secret screen time might signal deeper distress — and need more than a timeout to fix, experts say.“These emotional and behavioral concerns need to be addressed as soon as possible so they don’t intensify throughout the years,” Dr.Regine Muradian, a licensed clinical psychologist, told Parade in a recent interview. Dr.

Carla C.Allan, division chief of psychology at Phoenix Children’s, also told the outlet that caregivers should flag “consistent developmental delays, stagnation or regression in skills or abilities” with a pediatrician. Another digital-age danger? When kids demand to go incognito online.“If you recognize a child you care for attempts to or insists on exploring the internet unsupervised and/or in private, it is time that you engage in greater exploration of the foundation for their desire,” warned Dr.

Brett Biller, psychologist and mental health director at Hackensack University Medical Center in the same interview.Meanwhile, if your kid’s appetite has suddenly changed — don’t assume it’s a growth spurt or a picky phase. “It can indicate problems such as distress, anxiety or an eating disorder,” Dr.Denitrea Vaughan, psychologist with Thriveworks, also revealed to the outlet.Aggression, tantrums and violence are also major warning signs.

“These negative behaviors, if not addressed, can bleed into their elementary and middle school years,” said Muradian.Parents should also watch for foul language — especially in group chats.“There is much more inappropriate language, including more ableist, racially insensitive and sexually ...