We do our best to stop them getting cuts and broken bones but how often do we consider how our actions, or lack of, are affecting them psychologically?

We don’t want to think that their environment and surroundings could have a negative affect on their development, yet a quarter of the region’s children are having problems.

It is hard to imagine children, whose biggest struggles should be what they want in their lunch order, are having to deal with behavioural and emotional issues.

These children’s lives are apparently changing so rapidly that they are struggling to comprehend it.

It’s sad.

Students from kindergarten, year 1 and year 2 were surveyed.

What is happening to children this young that it’s having a lasting affect on them?

Do we blame school bullying or a bad home environment?

There is no evidence to suggest that these problems will last into their adult lives and of course, kids will just be kids.

There is the opinion that children need to toughen up, they have it too easy or parents mollycoddling their children are to blame.

And in a world where children have more access to technology than outside play, perhaps that is the case.

Mum and dad both have to work these days, in some cases longer hours, but arguably less time with technology would not make for a healthier child.

There are also those who say that ADHD is a made-up disease, that the out-of-character behaviour is just from bad parenting and not from a physiological deficiency. 

There is no quick fix.

There is no fool-proof way to ensure your child does not succumb to these problems.

The only real weapon we have is to be there for them – listen to them, spend time with them and let them know they are loved and cared for.

Don’t brush them off.

Don’t give them an iPad and hope they will forget whatever it is they were pestering you about.

You actions to a child speak louder than your words.

It’s not babysitting if it’s your own child – it’s parenting – so let’s make sure we are doing it right.