An Unexpected Reason Your Child’s Motor Skills Are Delayed
“I can’t put my baby down on the floor to play because it’s unsafe. That’s why I keep him in the playpen or walker. Besides, he’s happier there where he can watch his shows.” I hear these types of statements daily from loving, but tired, moms.
No judgment here, I get it. Running a house is hard and running one with children is even harder. Young children require constant supervision and, meanwhile, there’s laundry, dishes, and a lot of clutter—toys, shoes, clothes, pets and . . . you get the picture.
If you’re experiencing irritability, decreased concentration, tummy troubles, headaches, sadness, or anger, you may be showing signs of anxiety. Yes, I know these are symptoms of lack of sleep, too. But they are also signs of being overwhelmed with responsibilities.
Science has proven clutter can cause anxiety in adults. While science is a bit less clear on the effects of clutter on young children, it makes sense the visual disarray of too much stuff may cause these same type of symptoms in children.
While I can’t say a cluttered room will make your young child anxious, I can say keeping them contained in a playpen, baby walker, or similar device will contribute to developmental delays. Click here to read a previous post.
Children must practice rolling over, getting in and out of sitting, crawling, pulling to standing, and walking over and over. Any new skill must be refined by trial and error. So, your baby needs a clear, clean, and safe place to practice these skills.
While you may be feeling upset after reading this, please know most mothers feel like they fall short—it’s part of being a mom. But, you are not a failure! You’re an awesome mom who needs to make a few changes.
I know cleaning out and organizing is challenging, but your baby would be safer and more mobile if you did. And, you’d probably feel better yourself. Most of us have way too much stuff and there’s always a needy family who could benefit from your donation.
This week, start with a corner of a room and clear out a safe play area for your baby. Having an established SAFE ZONE is a great first step and will allow you to use the baby holding equipment less.
I’d love to send you my FREE Tips for Concerned Moms today. As always, contact me for personal questions about your baby.
(Photo from Pixabay)
The Conversation
I never thought about too much clutter (e.g. too many toy options) being a possible cause for anxiety symptoms in children. That was a big wow. I heard you that science is clear on the effect of clutter on adults and less clear on its effects on children, but it sure makes sense. Too much stimulus makes us all cranky. Thanks, Ginny! You’re awesome.
It just seems logical to me. Too many choices can be overwhelming and some of the children I evaluate sure seem to be showing signs of anxiety. But, I’m just PT. What do I know? 🙂 Thanks for reading!