Heatwaves impact children's development and mental health more than believed

Extreme heat poses a significant threat to children's well-being, impacting not only their physical health but also their cognitive development, sleep patterns, learning abilities, and mental health. Specialists warn that children's developing bodies react differently to high temperatures than adults', making them more susceptible to heatstroke and exhaustion.

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These effects are very important to understand because they have immediate consequences in childhood but can influence children's health and development throughout their lives.

Lindsey Burghardt, scientific director at the Harvard Center on the Developing Child, emphasizes the long-term consequences of heat exposure during childhood. "These effects are very important to understand because they have immediate consequences in childhood but can influence children's health and development throughout their lives," she stated. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency defines extreme heat days as those exceeding 35°C (95°F), particularly when temperatures remain high overnight, conditions becoming increasingly frequent and intense.

Psychotherapist Laura Găvan explains that beyond the physical risks, extreme temperatures affect children's psychological functioning. "The brain is extremely sensitive to changes caused by heat, and when the body makes a constant effort to adapt to high temperatures, the resources needed for attention, self-control, and emotional regulation decrease," she told Adevărul. This biological response can manifest as increased irritability, easier crying, quick anger, or reduced cooperation, which parents might mistakenly interpret as defiance or stubbornness.

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The brain is extremely sensitive to changes caused by heat, and when the body makes a constant effort to adapt to high temperatures, the resources needed for attention, self-control, and emotional regulation decrease.

Găvan advises parents to first consider a child's physical state before addressing difficult behavior. "A child's behavior is influenced by their physical state. When they are tired, hot, or dehydrated, their ability to control impulses and emotions decreases," she said. Simple questions like "Did they sleep enough?" "Did they drink water?" "Have they been in the heat too long?" or "Are they overstimulated?" can often resolve problematic behaviors without conflict, highlighting the crucial link between physical comfort and emotional regulation in children during heatwaves.

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A child's behavior is influenced by their physical state. When they are tired, hot, or dehydrated, their ability to control impulses and emotions decreases.