Children are a gift, and all children should be treasured and loved. Even when it’s difficult, we must take the time to care for them, and help them through anything that may come their way. One challenge for some parents is having a hyperactive child. The good news is there are many warning signs that signal hyperactivity, and when recognized soon enough, it can be controlled – often without medication.
Here are a few things to look out for: Does your child act out in public or at school? Does he/she sit still at the doctor’s office or are they restless while other kids are behaving themselves? What is their attitude with authority both at home and at school? How do they get along with peers?
Questions like this can help you begin to determine if you have a hyperactive child. The first step towards effective parenting is to get a definitive diagnosis, and the best place to start is with your pediatrician.
Your pediatrician can help you determine if your child’s hyperactive tendencies are related to something medical or if the symptoms are more in line with disorders such as ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), or something else entirely. Based on their initial diagnosis they may recommend therapy or counseling, but sometimes they will just push medication. This may not be an immediate need though, so don’t feel like you have to subscribe to a prescription from the outset.
A behavioral therapist, psychologist, or counselor is your next best stop to confirm diagnosis, and to discuss a course of treatment. It’s a good idea to meet with your child’s teachers if your children are in school at this point to let them know what is going on, and that you are working to find a resolution. This can help circumvent calls or conferences with teachers and authority figures ahead of any behavioral issues that might come up.
Once you have a diagnosis and a course of treatment, it’s time to start working on that, but it may be trying at first. While at home, it’s important that you show love and affection, but also that you remember that you are the parent and they are the child. They are looking to you for guidance, and help. With that in mind, here are some tips that may help you along the way:
- Maintain order. Hyperactive children need structure. They need to know what’s okay, and what is not so they know what is expected from them.
- Remember your child is not inherently “bad.” You will need a lot of patience, and it may be necessary to take deep breaths and give yourself a time out occasionally. Support and the ability to take a break are critical so that you can maintain your own mental health.
- Keep them active. Hyperactive children like to repeat that they are “bored.” Keeping them occupied is a good way of keeping anger, frustration, and undesired behavior at bay. If you have other children, make them all work together on crafts and other activities. This will provide a foundation for how best to cooperate with other children when you’re not around.
- Make lessons easy to understand. Children with ADHD for example, have a hard time with complex instructions. As such they need things broken down into the most minute details.
- Educate yourself on all the nuances of the hyperactivity disorder your child has. While some children may outgrow their disorder, it’s important that you prepare yourself for what to expect at every stage.
Here are some additional resources I recommend you read to learn more about hyperactivity in children:
- Why Is My Child So Hyper?
- Understanding Your Child’s Hyperactivity
- How to handle a Hyperactive Kid
- The CDC Guide to ADHD
- The National Institute of Mental Health Guide to ADD
- The National Institute of Mental Health Guide to ADHD
Hammond Psychology and Associates is the go-to resource for residents seeking psychological evaluations from a licensed psychologist in the Tampa Bay area. Click here to learn more about our Psychological Testing services in our Brandon location.