Do Your Children Say, "I'm Tired"? | Episode 564

If your child is saying, I'm tired, I can almost guarantee you they are between 10 and 14 years old, maybe a little bit older.

But there is something that happens neurodevelopmentally during that time period whenever they are prepubescent and entering puberty that their body is tired a lot.

And we need to understand that there are lots of times that Well, our child is not just complaining, but they really do require more sleep.

And so also the other thing is happening.

There's a part of their brain is waking up and they're converting to a less factual part of their thinking and responding and more emotional thinking.

The emotions come alive when they're 11, 12, 13 years old.

And that's a natural developmental part of the brain that is coming alive.

And it gives them the language that is tired.

I'm excited.

I am, you know, every word has emotion in it.

But tired is very common.

And sometimes they actually are physically tired.

And so be prepared, parents, as they transition through those years that their body does require more sleep.

Yes, I know they want to stay up later and they have a hard time going to bed, but they actually are needing more sleep.

So we as parents need to understand that with each stage, there are things happening inside their body, inside their brain, and things that they don't understand.

But you as the parent should seek to understand those changes that happen in their body, even before you can see the external change going through puberty.

There are things that are happening developmentally.

If your child is saying, I'm tired.

Now, I'm not talking about after they've done something very strenuous.

I'm saying they wake up tired and they seem to be tired throughout the day.

They may actually be tired.

And so have compassion, make room for them to have some downtime.

Their tiredness is a part of their growing.