"Perpetual motion machine" - this is how tired parents, exhausted educators and teachers say about a hyperactive child. It is he who periodically falls out of the bed in infancy, and at the age of five it is impossible to captivate him with an interesting fairy tale or favorite cartoon for at least 20 minutes. In elementary school, all the problems only get worse. Where does excessive activity in children come from and how to deal with it?
What is hyperactivity?
According to experts, this condition manifests itself in babies in the form of excessive activity, restlessness and a lot of unnecessary movements. Most of all, this behavior is typical for preschoolers, since their nervous system is still too unstable.
Boys suffer from hyperactivity several times more often than girls. Doctors explain this by the fact that they are usually larger than female babies at birth, which is fraught with various injuries. Also, the regions of the brain responsible for regulation and control mature much later in boys.
Currently, the number of children with this disorder of the central nervous system has increased significantly. The doctors' statistics are disappointing - signs of the disease are observed in about 40% of preschool children and half of primary school students. That, you see, is a lot!
Manifestations of hyperactivity
Over-activity syndrome has many symptoms. Let's list the main ones:
- Lack of attention
The kid is not able to concentrate on one activity for a long time, which requires certain efforts from him: coloring, reading, watching TV, solving examples. It is because of inattention that such children often experience difficulties with their studies.
- Impulsiveness
Hyperactive children are often reckless, in a hurry, and answer before a question is asked. They find it difficult to wait for their turn and plan something in advance. Therefore, relationships with classmates and classmates often deteriorate, and parents attend school at the same frequency as work.
- Excessive mobility
It is almost impossible to find such a child in complete rest - he either runs, or jumps, or jerks his legs if asked to sit on a chair. Also, a hyperactive child can be recognized by the richest facial expressions, shifting eyes and restless fingers. He usually moves by jumping, forcing his mother to run after him.
- Mood swings
It is difficult for parents to understand the emotional state of their children. They have unpredictable behavior, with emotional outbursts occurring for no obvious reason. The baby can become aggressive and even cruel at one moment, and after a quarter of an hour it is already nice to talk to mommy or peers.
- Bad memory
Due to low concentration of attention, impulsivity of actions and excessive distraction, children, as a rule, do not remember and absorb information well.
Causes of hyperactivity
This disease is based on minimal cerebral dysfunction, which disrupts the course of mental processes and causes all of the above features in a child. But the provoking factors of such a disorder are:
- Pregnancy progress
Severe toxicosis, high blood pressure, fetal hypoxia, the mother's use of alcohol, nicotine or drugs, exposure to toxic substances increase the likelihood of a hyperactive baby.
- Unfavorable childbirth
Prematurity, prolonged or, conversely, rapid labor, their artificial stimulation, as well as the use of various means of obstetric aid (in particular, forceps) can lead to hyperactivity.
- Genetic predisposition
If you yourself suffered from impulsive and disinhibited behavior at a young age, do not be surprised if your offspring has such a disease.
How can I help my child?
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Some adults who are raising hyperactive children often lose their temper and break out on them, despite all the love and care. Other mothers and fathers give up, believing that nothing good will come of their crumbs. Still others are trying to take the baby into the "iron grip", introducing the most stringent disciplinary measures.
Of course, every overly active child is a bright individual, which means that he needs a special approach. However, knowledge of the general psychological characteristics of such children allows specialists to give several recommendations that will help you find the key to your offspring.
- Formulate tasks clearly
Because of difficulty concentrating and high distraction, set specific tasks for your baby. Keep your phrases short, clear, without unnecessary details. Try to avoid overloaded structures.
- Follow the sequence
Never give your hyperactive child multiple errands at once. How often do you say to children: "Come on, put the cars away, wash your pens and sit down at the table"? The child will not be able to immediately perceive such a volume of information and, perhaps, will not complete a single task, but will be carried away by something else. Give the following directions as you go.
- Formulate prohibitions correctly
These kids are extremely negative about the word "no", so try not to use it. For example, instead of the categorical taboo "Don't walk in a puddle," say: "Let's better walk along a dry path." And, of course, in any conflict situation, try to remain calm.
- Set time boundaries
Young children generally have little idea of time, so you will need to supervise your assignment yourself. If you plan to put the baby to bed, distract him from the game, invite him to dinner, you must warn him in advance: "In five minutes we will have dinner."
- Channel your energy into a "peaceful track"
To make the child calmer, try to walk with him in the fresh air, enroll him in a sports club, often go to attractions, ride a bike, skate or play ball. In general, find the kind of activity that will give him genuine pleasure.
- Provide medication
Be sure to seek help from a neurologist who will not only make the correct diagnosis, but also be able to choose the correct pharmacological drug. Medical statistics say that the effect of drugs is effective in 80% of cases of hyperactivity: behavior improves, self-control increases.
If a restless hurricane child is growing in your family and you do not understand what to do, first of all, try to be patient and know that in no case he wants to annoy you. Do not be afraid to seek qualified support from a neurologist or psychologist, follow their recommendations and our advice. And do not forget that your child is no worse than other children, and also needs your love and understanding. If these conditions are met, you will be able to grow a collected and calm teenager from a little spoiled person.
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