Behaviour Query

[Guest]

I look after a wonderful little girl. SHe is 28mths old and is very spirited and lovely natured. SHe's pretty fearless and gets involved with all the activities and experiences on offer, she's a joy to play with as she is genuinely curious and excited and interested by all the things on offer. She's the sort of child who scoots on her scooter at 100miles an hour, falls, has a little cry then gets straight back on and flies off again.

A couple of weeks ago mum mentioned to me that she had become suddenly scared and couldn't tell her why. It ahs now happened a few times at home and twice with me. The episodes come completely out of the blue and she is obviously terrified. She calms very quickly and continues to play as if nothing had happened.

The latest episode with me was at a soft play centre, she suddenly ran towards me, shouting ina distressed way "want garden, want garden", I asked "did something scare you" and she replied "scared me, scared me". I held her close and could feel her heart was beating so fast, I reassured her and she calmed down, we changed areas and she ran around again as if nothing had happened.

Any ideas on how I can help her, Mum is concerned too and is worried it could be connected to febrile convulsions as they started about the same time

Many thanks

[HappyMaz]

How odd - my first thought is to wonder if it is something physical? My heart was pounding as I read your post - perhaps she has a physical symptom she can't understand and that is what is scaring her?

 

I think I'd be inclined to get a physical examination done in the first instance, but in the meantime it sounds as if you're doing an excellent job of reassuring her and calming her when it happens.

 

Maz

[Guest]

mmmm yes, thats what i wondered. This time it occured she also looked as if she was about to poo in her nappy (she doesn't like pooing in her nappy but doesn't like the potty either) I thought it may be fear (she didn't actually do a poo for another 3 hours - not sure if she could have held it in for that long)

Also usually she uses appropriate language for what she wants - "want garden" seemed inappropriate so it did make me concerned that something could be going on physically that she had no words to describe

thanks maz

[hali]

umm thats a tricky one - i think i would sit down with mum and try to narrow down when this started - good luck x

[HappyMaz]

Of course with an older child you could talk to them about their fears when they are calm and try to get to the bottom of it. However as you say, she doesn't have the words to convey her worries.

 

What sort of services do you have access to via your early years team? Perhaps they can advise about the kind of professionals you might be able to get support from?

 

Maz

[Guest]

we have a good early years team so I'm sure i could get some support for mum from somewhere. I mentioned today that we should start recording when and where each episode occurs, what the precursors are, how long it takes to resettle etc. - it may go away by itself it may get worse but i'm sure it will help to have that info if it does continue

mum said she would like to get her seen by a neurologist - her fever has only been 39 when she's had a convulsion and she's had 3 but apparently she needs to have them more frequently to be seen by a specialist

 

thanks Hali - i'll see if mum can remember when she had the first one