Behavior & Discipline

Is your child hyperactive?

hyper+boy

Kids are generally hyper. If you see your child to be hyper, it could be because they are just a kid. It’s normal for children of almost all ages to have lots of energy. It must not be considered as “hyperactive” unless there are other signs.

Maybe your child’s hyper behavior is regularly causing a problem in the classroom, with homework, or with friendships and relationships,  check with his pediatrician.

Could It Be ADHD?

Image source – Kids Travel Doc

It’s natural to wonder if ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) could be the cause of your child’s high energy all the time. But just being hyper doesn’t necessarily mean your child has this condition.

You can watch out for other signs of ADHD:

  • Do they interrupt frequently?
  • Do they have trouble following instructions?
  • Do they have trouble organizing tasks?
  • Are they forgetful?
  • Are they impatient?
  • Do they frequently speak out of turn?
  • Do they talk almost constantly and frequently (interrupts others)?
  • Do they move from place to place quickly (often clumsily)?
  • Do they keep moving even when sitting down?
  • Do they bump into things (while walking etc)?
  • Fidgets a lot?
  • Do they have trouble sitting still for meals and other quiet activities?

 

Next step

You can try and find many other things for support. There are various strategies that you can try to help your child manage their behavior. You must remember to pace yourself. You need not try too many things at once as it can make it hard to figure out which ones are working the best for your child and also for you.

 

Here are some suggestions of these things:

  • Learning your child first

You need to understand your child’s hyperactivity first. This is the first step to getting the required help for your child. It is better to observe before you take any step. The more you know, the more will it be easier to find ways to help them gain some self-control skills.

You can spot their patterns and triggers by observing their behavior. There can be fluctuations in their behavior with the time of the day and night. They may even face a hard time falling asleep even when they are overtired. Recognizing the trigger will allow you to try on different strategies. For example – you can change their bed time routine to allow them to have a good sleep.

 

  • Provide things to fidget with

It’s going to be hard sometimes to watch them picking everything and playing with it. You can instead give them something that will not only stop them from picking other things but also release their stress. You can give them gum to chew (child-friendly). Or carry a stress ball around. You can try for any object to let your child fiddle with. It will cut down the over-activity by directing it to other things.

 

  • Consider Yoga/martial arts

You may have already heard this a lot of times. But it is true that physical activity provides your child with an outlet for their energy. They will start being focused on what they are learning. It also teaches your child to be aware of their movements. This will most importantly help them be in control of their body.

 

  • Talk to your child’s teacher

It is well known that hyperactivity can affect learning sometimes. That’s why it’s a good idea to reach out to your child’s concerned teacher. They must have also noticed the behavioral patterns in your child. You can talk about classroom strategies that can help your child.

 

  • Talk to the doctor/specialist

It is the safest place to keep your views and get an answer that will most probably work for you. It is the most advisable place to start with. You can bring your notes with you to the visit. This way you can share your concerns and every other pattern that you have noticed in your child. The doctor may want to rule out hyperthyroidism and other possible medical causes of your child’s hyperactivity. They will provide with the accurate answers.

Share post: facebook twitter pinterest whatsapp