Hyperactive child: what is he like and what to do with him?

The Soviet cartoon "Beware of monkeys!" shows the viewer exactly how hyperactive children behave. The song for the cartoon lists the main signs of hyperactivity. Every little child:

• coming out of diapers

• lost everywhere

• it is found everywhere

• must run and jump

• grab everything, kick with your feet

The cartoon was released in 1984, just at the time when the world began to talk about ADHD — attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

"A child's attention deficit means that he cannot focus on one action or object for a long time. Some parents mistakenly interpret the syndrome, believing that they do not pay proper parental attention to the child."

The authors of the song "In every little child" indicate that every child has from 200 to 500 grams of the very energy that makes him run headlong and turn everything upside down. And doctors say that not every child is so restless.

There is a norm of activity and going beyond it is already a violation of behavior.

The child must be active, so he learns the world. If he learns the world too loudly and exuberantly, almost without a break for sleep, it's time to think about his health.

Read also: How to teach a child to speak: Top 10 simple tips

How to understand that a child is hyperactive?

At home, it will not be possible to accurately diagnose hyperactivity in a child, but starting from the age of 3-5, you can notice some symptoms. Check whether the description of the baby fits the following criteria:

1. The child is restless, jumping "over the heads".
2. Often lost on the street.
3. Does not like to fold toys, always throws them around the house.
4. With great desire, he starts a business and does not bring it to the end.
5. Interrupts you without listening to the end.
6. Often forgets and loses everything.
7. Regularly throws tantrums.
8. Does not like classes at the table, fidgets, jumps up and runs away.
9. Sleeps less than seven hours.
10. Restless: nervous, drumming with his fingers, bullying others. He fidgets even in his sleep.
11. There are speech disorders. It is difficult to learn the alphabet, does not stress correctly, distorts words. Often such children start talking late.

If most of the items accurately describe the child, you need to contact a specialized specialist. The research is carried out in three stages: information collection, testing, hardware research. At the first stage, the doctor learns about the course of pregnancy, childbirth, diseases of the mother and child. At the second stage, he conducts special tests that help to identify how much the child can concentrate.

Only after three stages of diagnosis can we conclude whether the child is hyperactive or not.

Causes of hyperactivity

It is important for parents to understand that overly active children do not specifically harm them and do not give them rest. Ekaterina Murashova, author of the book "Mattress Children and Catastrophe Children", describes a case from her practice. She was the first in the CIS to start talking about ADHD and in 1998 wrote a book about this problem. One day, after a live performance, Ekaterina received a letter:

"... Listened to the program and almost cried. If I had known earlier that my Seryozha was ill, I would have known what the reason for his condition was, how many things could have been changed. If I didn't cure him (I showed him to all the doctors, but no one found anything), then at least I could keep my relationship with my son. Because I always thought he was deliberately mocking us. And when he cried and said that he was trying to be good, I replied: "Shut up, liar!“ Here, now I'm paying for everything for this..."

A hyperactive child is not always able to control himself.

Ekaterina tells another example of how, before her eyes, the boy climbed into the sideboard and took out a vase, with the words: "You can't take a vase to Vanya, it will break." Children understand what adults are telling them, but they can't resist.Why can't they control themselves? The cause of hyperactivity syndrome is not fully understood. Most doctors believe that hyperactivity in children occurs due to heredity, birth trauma and hormonal failures.

Tips for parents of hyperactive children

There are two main problems associated with hyperactivity: it is difficult to calm a child; it is difficult to teach a child something and make him listen. Psychologists have compiled a number of recommendations for parents that will help in both cases.

1. Set clear objectives. It is a little difficult for a child with an attention disorder to reason logically. Avoid hints, long sentences, complex examples. Speak clearly: one sentence is one action. You can: "Sasha, wash your hands." You can't: "Sasha, wash your hands, wipe them with a towel, sit down at the table."
2. Follow the daily routine. Such children feel the passage of time in their own way. You need to eat, play, walk, sleep every day at the same hours, every day. The child should get used to the routine, predictability will calm him down a little.
3. Give the child to the sports section. It's better if it's not a team game like football or basketball. It can be difficult for children with hyperactivity to coordinate their movements, they run in the other direction, get lost on the playing field. Doctors recommend swimming, as it is a single sport and there is enough physical activity to release energy. Some people advise you to play tennis or table tennis to develop concentration.
4. Stick to a positive communication model. Try to avoid negatives. You can: "Let's move to the bed." You can't: "Don't sit on the floor!" If a child jumps on the bed for ten minutes, don't ask him to "stop immediately", switch his attention to something else. For example: "Can you hit a tennis ball off the floor twenty times?"
5. Put him on the first desk. If the child is already in school, it is advisable to ask the teacher to put him on the first desk. Usually it is difficult for teachers to cope with hyperactive children and they send them to the back rows. This is a mistake, because there he will lose concentration even faster and will find a new way to distract others.
6. Do not scold and do not hit. Children with ADHD sometimes grow up to be people with a deep sense of guilt and low self-esteem. The problem is that some adults react too sharply to a small "natural disaster". It is important for adults to remain calm as much as possible. Patiently explain to your child the rules of behavior and the consequences of not following them.
7. Praise and reward. The child is sensitive to praise. Don't be sorry to say a few nice words to him, even for minor successes. Focus on encouragement, not blame.
8. Less TV and computer games. Movies and active games provoke excitement of the nervous system and lead to anxiety. Try to keep these entertainments to a minimum, for a preschooler it is optimal for 30-40 minutes, for a schoolboy — no more than an hour. Let the child watch TV, but not horror movies or action movies. As for games, it is also worth avoiding overly active, emotional plots.
9. Maintain physical contact. Pat the baby on the head and hug. Touching a loved one is important to him, they calm the nervous system. It is especially important to stay with him before going to bed, read a book, talk. Monotonous activity will slightly reduce activity.
10. Keep an eye on the nutrition. Exclude foods that cause nervous excitement: chocolate, caffeinated drinks, spicy and salty foods.
11. Be careful when giving sedatives. The benefits of homeopathy in cases of ADHD have not been proven. But some children behave more restlessly after taking soothing herbal infusions than before them.

Does ADHD really exist?

In medical circles, there is an opinion that ADHD is a fictional disease. American neurophysiologist Damien Farey and psychiatrist Joel Nigg conducted an experiment in which they studied children with attention disorders. They compared two groups: one had children diagnosed with ADHD, the other had normal, healthy children. Scientists tested the participants' ability to understand and remember information, to concentrate attention. During the experiment, children with a diagnosis showed the worst result overall, but in some parameters they surpassed healthy ones. Therefore, Fari and Nigg believe that it is ridiculous to reduce different disorders under one diagnosis — ADHD.

The main danger lies in the fact that psychotropic drugs are used in America and a number of other countries to treat this disease. They have side effects and are addictive. On the territory of the CIS, these drugs are prohibited.

Whether this disease exists or not, it is important for parents to remember one thing: if your child is special and requires more attention, you need to give it. Be more tolerant and kind to him, invent ways to convey the right words to him. Do not consider a child with hyperactivity defective and sick, he is just different. Most often, the syndrome ceases to manifest itself at the age of 12-14 years, and adults who "got over" ADHD in childhood sometimes become successful people.

It is important for parents to remember one thing: if your child is special and requires more attention, you need to give it. Be more tolerant and kind to him, invent ways to convey the right words to him. Do not consider a child with hyperactivity defective and sick, he is just different. Most often, the syndrome ceases to manifest itself at the age of 12-14 years, and adults who "got over" ADHD in childhood sometimes become successful people. Celebrities who were diagnosed with ADHD in childhood: Jim Carrey, Justin Timberlake, Avril Lavigne, Liv Tyler, Paris Hilton. Historical figures: Leonardo Da Vinci, Leo Tolstoy, Alexander Pushkin, Ernest Hemingway, Henry Ford, Albert Einstein, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Benjamin Franklin.