In detail, translated from Latin, “active” means active, effective, and the Greek word “hyper” indicates exceeding the norm. Hyperactivity in children is manifested by inattention, distractibility, and impulsivity that are unusual for a normal child’s age and development. < Слайд 1> According to psychological and pedagogical literature, the following terms are used to describe such children: “active”, “impulsive”, “nimble”, “energizer”, “perpetual motion machine”, “zipper”, “volcano”. < Слайд 2 > Some authors also use phrases such as “motor type of development”, “children with increased activity”, “children with increased affectivity”. According to experts, almost half of children suffer from so-called hyperactivity. Not only in our country, but throughout the world, the number of such children is steadily increasing. If a child is hyperactive, then not only he himself experiences difficulties, but also those around him: parents, classmates, teachers... such a child needs timely help, otherwise an antisocial or even psychopathic personality may develop in the future: it is known that among juvenile delinquents a significant percentage are hyperactive children.
Helping a hyperactive child is a very difficult process and there are many pitfalls on the path to full recovery. This is what the head teacher of a school near Moscow said about such a first-grader.
A well-prepared boy entered the gymnasium class of a regular high school. However, he was unable to study in this class. The reason is simple: the excessive aggressiveness of a hyperactive child caused constant conflicts with peers. One day, a classmate got hurt and received quite a serious injury. The parents rebelled and attacked the head teacher: “Remove this child from our class, we are afraid for our children!” The child had to be transferred to another class. But the same problems arose there too. The students in the new class turned out to be more cunning than the previous ones. The children quickly realized that if yesterday he hit one, today he hit another, then they need to unite and act together against him. Well, a normal reaction to constant irritation... But one day this unequal confrontation ended as follows: a lonely boy, armed with a ski pole (obviously after a fight in class), ran around the school in terrible excitement and anger and did not allow anyone to approach him. The teachers and high school students who were called to help were unable to get closer to him and somehow calm the child down. Often after this incident, having been brought to the doorstep of the school by his father, he was not in a hurry to go to his class at all, but hung out along the corridors or sat in the office of the vice-principal. Did the school try to help the child in any way? How could she... There were conversations with a psychologist, and teachers tried to find an approach to him, and parents were repeatedly called to school. It turned out that the child was being raised by the father; the parents were divorced. The mother lives separately and, according to her, is not even able to take her son with her on weekends: she is very tired of mutual communication with her own child. Well, the father probably allowed excessive rigidity in raising his son, whipping up the aggressiveness of the hyperactive child. A child psychiatrist, having examined the boy, concluded that the child’s intelligence level was above average, and recommended home schooling with school teachers, with visits to certain subjects in the presence of the father. But there was little time left until the end of the school year, and the organization of home schooling was postponed until the fall. In the meantime, they offered to study in a special sanatorium for hyperactive children. However, according to rumors, after two weeks he was kicked out of there, and he never showed up at school again either at the end of the school year or at the beginning of the next. This is such a sad story.
What is hyperactivity, and how should we as adults adjust our behavior to help the socialization process of a hyperactive child?
Hyperactivity is usually understood as excessively restless physical and mental activity in children, when excitement prevails over inhibition. Doctors believe that hyperactivity is the result of very minor brain damage that is not detected by diagnostic tests. Scientifically speaking, we are dealing with minimal brain dysfunction. Signs of hyperactivity appear in a child already in early childhood. In the future, his emotional instability and aggressiveness often lead to conflicts in the family and school.
How does hyperactivity manifest itself?
Hyperactivity manifests itself most clearly in children of senior preschool and primary school age. During this period, there is a transition to the leading - educational - activity and, in connection with this, intellectual loads increase: children are required to be able to concentrate attention for a longer period of time, complete the work they have started, and achieve a certain result. It is in conditions of prolonged and systematic activity that hyperactivity manifests itself very convincingly. Parents suddenly discover numerous negative consequences of restlessness, disorganization, and excessive mobility of their child and, concerned about this, seek contact with a psychologist.
Psychologists identify the following signs, which are diagnostic symptoms of hyperactive children.
1. Restless movements in the hands and feet. Sitting on a chair, he writhes and squirms.
2. Cannot sit still when asked to do so.
3. Easily distracted by extraneous stimuli.
4. Has difficulty waiting his turn during games and in various situations in a group (in classes, during excursions and holidays).
5. He often answers questions without thinking, without listening to them completely.
6. Has difficulty completing the proposed tasks (not related to negative behavior or lack of understanding).
7. Has difficulty maintaining attention when completing tasks or playing games.
8. Frequently moves from one unfinished action to another.
9. Cannot play quietly or calmly.
10. Chatty.
11. Often interferes with others, pesters others (for example, interferes with other children’s games).
12. It often seems that the child does not listen to speech addressed to him.
13. Often loses things needed in kindergarten, school, at home, on the street.
14. Sometimes commits dangerous actions without thinking about the consequences, but does not specifically seek adventure or thrills (for example, runs out into the street without looking around).
All these signs can be grouped into the following areas:
– excessive physical activity;
– impulsiveness;
– distractibility-inattentiveness. < Слайд 3 >
The diagnosis is considered valid if at least eight of all symptoms are present. Thus, having fairly good intellectual abilities, hyperactive children are characterized by insufficient speech development and fine motor skills, decreased interest in acquiring intellectual skills, drawing, and have some other deviations from the average age characteristics, which leads to their lack of interest in systematic activities that require attention, and therefore, future or present educational activities.
Who is more likely to exhibit hyperactive behavior: boys or girls?
According to psychologists, hyperactivity among children from 7 to 11 years old averages 16.5%. Among boys - 22%, among girls - about 10%.
Why are there so many more hyperactive boys than girls?
The reasons may be: greater vulnerability of the brain of male fetuses in relation to various types of pathology of pregnancy and childbirth, in which the developing brain suffers. Functional and genetic factors may play a role. In addition, it is believed that a lower degree of functional asymmetry in girls creates a greater reserve for compensating for violations of certain higher mental functions. Perhaps girls are more dominated by the norms of social behavior, which instill obedience in them from childhood. As a release, a girl can simply cry, while a boy in a similar situation would rather “run across the ceiling.” < Слайд 4 >
Hyperactive children and their learning problems.
The problems of children with behavioral disorders and associated learning difficulties are especially relevant today. Constantly excited, inattentive, restless and noisy - such children attract the attention of the teacher, who needs to make sure that they sit quietly, complete tasks, and do not disturb their classmates. These schoolchildren are constantly busy with their own affairs during the lesson; it is difficult to keep them in place, make them listen to the task and, even more so, complete it to the end. They “don’t hear” the teachers, they lose everything, they forget everything. They are inconvenient for teachers due to their excessive activity and impulsiveness. And since a modern school is a system of norms, rules, and requirements that regulate a child’s life, we can talk about the existing education system as not being adapted to work with hyperactive children. That is why in recent years the problem of the effectiveness of teaching hyperactive children has become increasingly relevant and discussed among teachers and school psychologists. So, just a few years ago in primary school there were one or two hyperactive children per class, but now about 20-30% of students fall into this group. And this percentage is constantly growing. Despite all the existing behavioral problems, the intellectual functions of a hyperactive child are not impaired, and such children can successfully master the general education school program, provided that the requirements of the school environment meet the child’s capabilities. However, the educational system itself, especially in the first stages of hyperactive children’s stay at school, is psychotraumatic for them and leads to the emergence of maladaptive states in these children.
Thus, hyperactive children (and especially younger schoolchildren) experience an increased need for movement, which contradicts the requirements of school life, since school rules do not allow them to move freely during class and even during recess. And sitting at a desk for 4-6 lessons in a row for 40 minutes is an impossible task for them. That is why, already 15-20 minutes after the start of the lesson, a hyperactive child is not able to sit calmly at his desk. This is facilitated by low mobility in the lesson, lack of change in forms of activity in the lesson and during the day. The next problem is the contradiction between the impulsiveness of the child’s behavior and the normative nature of relationships in the lesson, which is manifested in the discrepancy between the child’s behavior and the established pattern: the teacher’s question - the student’s answer. A hyperactive child, as a rule, does not wait for the teacher to allow him to answer. He often begins to answer without listening to the end of the question, and often shouts from his seat.
Hyperactive children are characterized by unstable performance, which is the reason for the increase in a large number of errors when answering and completing written tasks when a state of fatigue sets in. And the fixed (standard) system for assessing knowledge, skills and abilities, adopted in a modern school, performs not so much a regulatory function as an sanctioning function for the child, since the increasing number of errors due to fatigue leads to an increase in comments and negative assessments from the teacher , which is perceived by the child as a negative assessment of himself as a whole, and not as an assessment of his work. A hyperactive person's reading and writing skills are significantly lower than those of his peers and do not correspond to his intellectual abilities. Written work is done sloppily, with errors due to inattention. At the same time, the child is not inclined to listen to the advice of adults. Experts suggest that this is not just a matter of impaired attention. Difficulties in developing writing and reading skills often arise due to insufficient development of motor coordination, visual perception, and speech development
The system of presenting educational material at school is, first of all, a pedagogical monologue, which requires attentive listening and executive behavior from the child, while hyperactive children need, first of all, visual and tactile support in obtaining information. Thus, we can talk about the discrepancy between the methods of presenting educational material (its insufficient variety) and the multichannel perception of a hyperactive child.
And one more feature of the school environment does not allow hyperactive children to feel comfortable - this is the lack of play space at school, while for these children it is necessary, because it allows organizing games to relieve static tension, play up aggression, correct emotional response mechanisms, and develop social behavior skills. And since the space for play at school is not defined, hyperactive children do not always build it where it is considered possible, and, therefore, again do not meet the requirements of school life.
The problems of hyperactive children cannot be solved overnight or by one person. This complex problem requires the attention of both parents and doctors, teachers and psychologists. Moreover, medical, psychological and pedagogical tasks sometimes overlap so much that it is impossible to draw a distinction between them.
The initial diagnosis by a neurologist or psychiatrist and drug therapy are complemented by psychological and pedagogical correction, which determines an integrated approach to the problems of a hyperactive child and can guarantee success in overcoming the negative manifestations of this syndrome.
Correction in the family
To enrich and diversify the emotional experience of a hyperactive child, to help him master basic self-control and thereby somewhat smooth out the manifestations of increased motor activity means to change his relationship with a close adult, and, above all, with his mother. This will be facilitated by any action, any situation, or event aimed at deepening contacts and their emotional enrichment.
When raising a hyperactive child, loved ones should avoid two extremes:
– on the one hand, manifestations of excessive pity and permissiveness;
- on the other hand, setting excessive demands that he is unable to fulfill, combined with excessive punctuality, cruelty and sanctions (punishments). < Слайд 5 >
Frequent changes in instructions and fluctuations in parents' moods have a much more profound negative impact on these children than on others. Associated behavioral disorders can be corrected, but the process of improving the child’s condition usually takes a long time and does not occur immediately. Of course, pointing out the importance of an emotionally rich interaction between a child and a close adult and considering the family atmosphere as a condition for consolidation, and in some cases even the emergence of hyperactivity as a way of behavior in a child, we do not deny that illness and injury can also make a negative contribution to the formation of hyperactivity or their consequences. Recently, some scientists have associated hyperactive behavior with the presence in children of so-called minimal brain dysfunctions, that is, congenital uneven development of individual brain functions. Others explain the phenomenon of hyperactivity as the consequences of early organic brain damage caused by pregnancy pathology, complications during childbirth, alcohol consumption, parental smoking, etc. However, at present, manifestations of hyperactivity in children are significantly common and are not always, as physiologists note, associated with pathology. Often, some features of the nervous system of children, due to unsatisfactory upbringing and living conditions, are only a background that facilitates the formation of hyperactivity as a way of children responding to unfavorable conditions.
- Try to restrain your violent emotions as much as possible, especially if you are upset or dissatisfied with your child’s behavior. Emotionally support children in all attempts at constructive, positive behavior, no matter how small. Cultivate an interest in getting to know and understand your child more deeply.
- Avoid categorical words and expressions, harsh assessments, reproaches, threats that can create a tense environment and cause conflict in the family. Try to say “no”, “you can’t”, “stop” less often - it’s better to try to switch the baby’s attention, and if you succeed, do it lightly, with humor.
- Watch your speech, try to speak in a calm voice. Anger and indignation are difficult to control. When expressing dissatisfaction, do not manipulate the child’s feelings or humiliate him. < Слайд 6 >
- If possible, try to allocate a room or part of it for the child for activities, games, privacy (that is, his own “territory”). When designing, it is advisable to avoid bright colors and complex compositions. There should be no distracting objects on the table or in the child’s immediate environment. A hyperactive child himself is not able to make sure that nothing outside distracts him.
- The organization of the whole life should have a calming effect on the child. To do this, together with him, create a daily routine, following which, show both flexibility and perseverance.
- Determine the range of responsibilities for the child, and keep their performance under constant supervision and control, but not too strictly. Recognize and praise his efforts often, even if the results are less than perfect. < Слайд 7 >
And here the most important activity for children – play – is absolutely irreplaceable, since it is close and understandable to the child. The use of emotional influences contained in voice intonations, facial expressions, gestures, the form of an adult’s response to his actions and the actions of a child will give both participants great pleasure. < Слайд 8>
Don't give up. Love your restive child, help him be successful and overcome school difficulties. Remember that “Naughty children are like roses - they need special care. And sometimes you get hurt on the thorns to see their beauty” (Mary S. Kurchinka). < Слайд 9 >
When it gets really hard, remember that by adolescence, and in some children even earlier, hyperactivity goes away. According to the observations of most doctors and psychologists, general motor activity decreases with age, and the identified neurotic changes are gradually leveled out. Connections appear in the child’s brain that were not there or that were disrupted. It is important that the child approaches this age without the burden of negative emotions and inferiority complexes. So, if you have a hyperactive child, help him, everything is in your hands. < Слайд10 >
Summary: Hyperactivity in children. Attention deficit hyperactivity. Features of the behavior of hyperactive children. Hyperactive child, problems at school, what to do? An active child. Problems at school.
This article is an excerpt from the book by I.Yu. Mlodik "School and how to survive in it: the view of a humanistic psychologist." In the book, the author shares with readers his thoughts about what a school should be like and what needs to be done so that students consider education an interesting and important matter, and leave school ready for adult life: self-confident, sociable, active, creative, who know how to protect their psychological boundaries and respect the boundaries of other people. What is special about a modern school? What can teachers and parents do to prevent children from losing the desire to learn? You will find answers to these and many other questions in this book. The publication is intended for parents, teachers and all those who care about the future of children. The book was published by the publishing house "GENESIS". More detailed information about the book and conditions for its purchase can be found at the link >>>>
Nowadays, one of the most common problems noted by almost all teachers is the hyperactivity of children. Indeed, this is a phenomenon of our time, the sources of which are not only psychological, but also social, political, and environmental. Let's try to look at the psychological ones; personally, I only had to deal with them.
Firstly, children called hyperactive are very often just anxious children. Their anxiety is so high and constant that they themselves are no longer aware of what and why they are worried. Anxiety, like excessive excitement that cannot find a way out, forces them to make many small movements and fuss. They fidget endlessly, drop something, break something, rustle something, tap something, rock it. It is difficult for them to sit still, and sometimes they can jump up in the middle of a lesson. Their attention seems scattered. But not all of them are truly unable to concentrate. Many study well, especially in subjects that do not require accuracy, perseverance and the ability to concentrate well.
Children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder require more involvement and benefit from smaller classes or groups where the teacher has more opportunity to give him personal attention. In addition, in a large group, such a child is very distracting to other children. During educational tasks, it can be very difficult for a teacher to maintain the concentration of a class in which there are several hyperactive students. Children prone to hyperactivity, but without an appropriate diagnosis, can study in any class, provided that the teacher does not increase their anxiety and does not constantly upset them. It is better to touch a hyperactive child when sitting him down than to point out the obligation to be disciplined a hundred times. It is better to be allowed to go to the toilet and back for three minutes from class, or to run up the stairs, than to call for attention and calm. His poorly controlled motor excitation passes much easier when it is expressed in running, jumping, that is, in wide muscle movements, in active efforts. Therefore, a hyperactive child must move well during recess (and sometimes, if possible, during class) in order to relieve this anxious excitement.
It is important to understand that a hyperactive child has no intention of demonstrating such behavior “to spite” the teacher, that the sources of his actions are not at all promiscuity or bad manners. In fact, such a student simply finds it difficult to control his own excitement and anxiety, which usually goes away by adolescence.
A hyperactive child is also hypersensitive; he perceives too many signals at the same time. His abstract appearance, wandering gaze misleads many: it seems that he is absent here and now, not listening to the lesson, not involved in the process. Very often this is not the case at all.
I'm in an English lesson and sitting in the last desk with a guy whose hyperactivity the teachers don't even complain about anymore, it's so obvious and tiresome for them. Thin, very mobile, he instantly turns his desk into a heap. The lesson has just begun, but he is already impatient, he begins to build something out of pencils and erasers. It seems that he is very passionate about this, but when the teacher asks him a question, he answers without hesitation, correctly and quickly.
When the teacher calls him to open his workbooks, he begins to look for what he needs only a few minutes later. Breaking everything on his desk, he does not notice how the notebook falls. Leaning over to the neighbor's desk, he looks for her there, to the indignation of the girls sitting in front, then suddenly jumps up and rushes to his shelf, receiving a stern reprimand from the teacher. When he runs back, he discovers a fallen notebook. During all this time, the teacher gives a task, which, as it seemed, the boy did not hear, because he was carried away by the search. But it turns out that he understood everything, because he quickly begins to write in a notebook, inserting the necessary English verbs. Having completed this in six seconds, he begins to play with something on the desk, while the other children diligently and intently do the exercise in complete silence, broken only by his endless bustle.
Next comes an oral test of the exercise, the children take turns reading sentences with inserted words. At this time, the boy constantly has something falling down, being under his desk, then getting attached somewhere... He doesn’t pay attention to the check at all and misses his turn. The teacher calls him by name, but my hero doesn’t know which sentence to read. His neighbors give him hints, and he answers easily and correctly. And then he plunges back into his incredible construction of pencils and pens. It seems that his brain and body cannot stand rest, he simply needs to be involved in several processes at the same time, at the same time this makes him very tired. And soon he jumps up from his seat in great impatience:
Can I go out?
- No, there are only five minutes until the end of the lesson, sit down.
He sits down, but now he’s definitely not here anymore, because the desk is shaking, and he’s simply not able to hear and write down his homework, he’s frankly in pain, it seems like he’s counting the minutes until the bell rings. With the first trills, he takes off and runs along the corridor like a catechumen throughout the break.
Even a good psychologist, let alone a teacher, is not so easy to deal with a child’s hyperactivity. Psychologists often work with problems of anxiety and self-esteem of such a child, teach him to listen, better understand and control the signals of his body. A lot of work is done with fine motor skills, which often lag behind the rest of development, but by working on which, the child better learns to control his gross motor skills, that is, his larger movements. Hyperactive children are often gifted, capable, and talented. They have a lively mind, they quickly process information received, and easily absorb new things. But at school (especially elementary school), such a child will be in a deliberately losing position due to difficulties in penmanship, neatness and obedience.
Hyperactive children often benefit from all types of modeling with clay and plasticine, playing with water, pebbles, sticks and other natural materials, all types of physical activity, but not sports, because it is important for them to make any muscle movement, not just the right one. The development of the body and the opportunity to throw out excess excitement allow such a child to gradually enter his own boundaries, from which he previously always wanted to jump out.
It has been noticed that hyperactive children absolutely need space for such vain manifestation of themselves. If at home it is strictly forbidden, through constant reprimanding or other educational measures, to behave in this way, then they will be much more hyperactive at school. Conversely, if school is strict with them, they will become extremely active at home. Therefore, parents and teachers need to keep in mind that these children will still find a way out for their motor agitation and anxiety.
Other publications on the topic of this article:
Hyperactive child at school and at home.
Lately we have been hearing the concept of a “hyperactive” child more and more often. What is he like? What are the causes of child hyperactivity? What to do in this situation.What is hyperactivity?
“Hyper…” - (from the Greek Hyper - above, from above) - a component of complex words, indicating an excess of the norm. The word “active” came into Russian from the Latin “activus” and means “effective, active.”
Hyperactive behavior in children is characterized by the following signs: restless movements are often observed; spins; gets up from his seat in the classroom during lessons when he is required to remain seated; often talkative; usually has difficulty waiting his turn in various situations.
Probably in every class there are children who find it difficult to sit in one place for a long time, remain silent, or obey instructions. They create additional difficulties for educators and teachers in their work because they are very active, hot-tempered, irritable and irresponsible. Hyperactive children often touch and drop various objects, push peers, creating conflict situations. The famous American psychologist V. Oaklander characterizes these children as follows: “A hyperactive child has difficulty sitting, he is fussy, moves a lot, spins around, is sometimes overly talkative, and can be annoying in his manner of behavior. He often has poor coordination or insufficient muscle control. He is clumsy, drops or breaks things, spills milk. It is difficult for such a child to concentrate his attention, he is easily distracted, often asks many questions, but rarely waits for answers."
How to identify a hyperactive child?
The behavior of hyperactive children may be superficially similar to the behavior of children with increased anxiety, so it is important for teachers and parents to know the main differences between the behavior of one category of children and another. In addition, the behavior of an anxious child is not socially destructive, but a hyperactive child is often the source of various conflicts, fights and simply misunderstandings.
To identify a hyperactive child in the classroom, it is necessary to observe him for a long time and conduct conversations with parents and teachers.
American psychologists P. Baker and M. Alvord offer the following criteria for identifying hyperactivity in a child
Criteria for hyperactivity
Active attention deficit
Inconsistent, it is difficult for him to maintain attention for a long time.
Doesn't listen when spoken to.
He takes on a task with great enthusiasm, but never finishes it.
Experiences difficulties in organization.
Often loses things.
Avoids boring and mentally demanding tasks.
Often forgetful.
Motor disinhibition
Constantly fidgets.
Shows signs of anxiety (drumming with fingers, moving in a chair, running, climbing somewhere).
Sleeps much less than other children, even in infancy.
Very talkative.
Impulsiveness
1.Begins to answer without finishing the question.
2. Unable to wait for his turn, often interferes and interrupts.
3. Poor concentration.
Cannot wait for reward (if there is a pause between actions and reward).
When performing tasks, he behaves differently and shows very different results. (in some lessons the child is calm, in others he is not, but in some lessons he is successful, in others he is not).
If at least six of the listed signs appear before the age of 7 years, the teacher and parents can assume that the child he is observing is hyperactive.
What to do?
First, it is necessary to establish the cause of hyperactivity, for which you need to consult with specialists. If a neurologist prescribes a course of treatment, massage and adherence to a special regime, it is necessary to strictly follow his recommendations.
Create a calm, favorable environment around such a child, since any disagreements in the family only charge the child with negative emotions. Communication with a hyperactive child should also be soft and calm, since he is susceptible to the mood of his parents and people close to him.
It is necessary to observe a single line of behavior for parents and all family members in raising a child.
It is very important to prevent the child from overtiring; do not exceed the load and work hard with him. For example, sending a child to several sections or clubs at once, jumping through age groups. All this will lead to whims and worsening of the child’s behavior.
In order to prevent the child from becoming overexcited, it is very important to maintain a daily routine, which includes mandatory daytime sleep, early evening going to bed, it is necessary to replace outdoor games and walks with quiet games, etc.
The fewer comments you make, the better. In this situation, it is better to distract him. The number of prohibitions must be age-appropriate. Such a child really needs praise, so it is necessary to do it very often, even for a small thing. But praise should not be too emotional, so as not to overstimulate the child.
Try to ensure that your requests do not carry several instructions at once. When talking to a child, you need to look him straight in the eye.
In order to develop fine motor skills and general organization of movements, it is necessary to involve hyperactive children in choreography, tennis, dancing, swimming, and karate.
It is necessary to introduce the child to outdoor and sports games; the child must understand the purpose of the game and learn to obey the rules and plan the game.
When raising a hyperactive child, one should not go to extremes: on the one hand, show excessive gentleness, and on the other, increased demands that he is unable to fulfill, combined with harshness and punishment. Frequent changes in punishment and parental moods have a negative impact on a hyperactive child.
Spare no time and effort to instill in your child obedience, accuracy, self-organization, develop in him a sense of responsibility for his actions, the ability to plan and complete what he starts.
To improve concentration when doing homework, it is necessary to remove, if possible, all irritating and distracting factors; it should be a quiet place where the child can concentrate on work. While preparing homework, you need to check in with your child to make sure he is continuing to work. Every 15-20 minutes, allow your child to take a five-minute break, during which you can walk around and rest.
Always try to discuss his behavior with your child and make comments to him in a calm and friendly manner.
It is very important to increase a child’s self-esteem and self-confidence. This can be done through the acquisition of new skills, success in school and everyday life.
A hyperactive child is very sensitive; he reacts particularly sharply to remarks, prohibitions, and notations. Such children sometimes feel that their parents do not love them. Such children, more than others, need warmth, care, attention and love, love not for something, but because it exists. Now we have come to an important topic - what should parents do with this restless bundle of energy...
1. Temper the child.
For example, pouring a bucket of cold water over your child every day... or another option acceptable to you. Trite? But it is very effective! Do you know why hardening is effective for pulmonary, gastrointestinal and nervous diseases?
Cold water is stressful. The body does not understand what happened, but is ready to defend itself: run, attack, hide. At the time of this preparation, the adrenal glands secrete the stress hormone - adrenaline. But no battle takes place. But you can’t drive adrenaline back... and it starts working where the body has a weak point. In our case, in the nervous system.
In addition, pouring a bucket of cold water on your shoulders and neck (not your head!) will relieve excess psychomotor tension on the cerebral cortex. It is typical for hyperactive children and is what prevents them from falling asleep when they really want to sleep.
2. Don't keep it at home.
It is highly desirable for a hyperactive child to attend some kind of children's institution. After the age of three, the house finally becomes too small for him. He needs communication and a variety of impressions, but he is active, sociable and easily gets along with people, enterprising and non-offensive.
In addition, this experience will prepare him for serious stress at school. It is better that he gradually gains social experience of communicating with other children and adults and adapts to the requirements.
3. Teach the child to observe his condition and report it to others.
Sounds weird? Moreover, most adults are not very good at doing this...
But if you teach this to a child from a very young age, he will do it very well. First, parents need to track these “good” and “bad” periods in their child. Then the mother will regularly and in detail inform her child about her observations of his condition: “This is not possible for you today. Let’s try tomorrow,” “You seem very excited after kindergarten. Let’s try to take a shower, and then we’ll study?”, “This time everything worked out simply and wonderfully for you. Please remember this state". And then soon the child can make his own observation: “I'm angry and hungry now. You need to feed me and I’ll get better.”.
4. Teach your child to relax.
This can be done in the form of a fun game.You also need to call on “natural psychotherapists” for help - water and sand. Games with them have a wonderful healing effect - they relax. And if on the shore of a river or sea a hyperactive child picks around in the sand to his heart’s content, builds sand towers, plays with water, swims and dives, a significant improvement in behavior, sleep, etc. can occur.
It happens that a child does not adapt well to school. For various reasons, he does not fit into school rules, cannot study on his own and interferes with others. Parents are in despair: the child seems like a child, not at all stupid, but at the same time there are continuous failures and disappointments. Armed with research, literature and our own experience, we talk about the behavioral problems of hyperactive children and what to do about them.
To describe this problem, a “fashionable diagnosis” is often used - ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). We will not, however, use this clinical cliché.
Firstly, hyperactivity and attention disorders do not always go hand in hand. These problems are completely different, and attention deficit needs to be discussed separately. Secondly, even among the most advanced doctors at the moment there is no consensus either on the criteria for ADHD or on what to do if a diagnosis is made.
In the USA, the WWK3 protocol is used, according to which children diagnosed with hyperactivity are treated with Ritalin (methylphenidate - a psychostimulant drug). But according to some studies (for example, according to Australian scientists), Ritalin is not effective in the long term for ADHD.
Another main drug for the treatment of ADHD is atomoxetine, commonly known as strattera. This medicine is quite effective, but causes significant side effects that force many parents to abandon it (nausea, sudden loss of appetite, slower growth of muscle mass).
In the CIS countries, hyperactivity is practically not treated with medications, except by prescribing nootropics, for which no full-scale, large-scale studies have been conducted, or in severe cases, antipsychotics, which is completely unfounded.
How can we personally smooth out the manifestations of hyperactivity in a child and help him adapt to school if his characteristics interfere with learning and communicating in the same way as most of his peers?
Here's an extreme fidget. He runs, rocks in his chair, waves his arms, talks all the time, does not want and cannot listen to the teacher, read the textbook, or write normally in the notebook. But it really interferes with the learning of others. At the same time, he often lags behind in emotional development: he only knows how to “run with the guys,” but he does not have enough patience to somehow adapt and listen to his comrade. And that's why he can't make friends.
Teachers groan at him, peers quickly begin to consider him a buffoon or even an outcast. His intelligence may be high or normal - but the endless bustle, running, jumping and screaming simply does not allow the child to express himself.
How can we determine our position regarding the education of our active child at school? And what should you do? These tips are based both on the author’s personal experience of raising a hyperactive child, and on various literature. In particular, the excellent book “Children-Mattresses and Children-Disasters” by St. Petersburg psychologist Ekaterina Murashova.
1. Mode
A hyperactive child needs to continue to lead a “preschool lifestyle” for up to ten years. He shouldn’t be a little manager whose days are scheduled according to circles and sections. You can’t leave him in after-school care if there is no nap time. Afternoon rest, a walk, preparing homework, quiet games and sleep - that’s the only way.
When getting up at 7.30, a hyperactive junior high school student must “turn off the lights” at most at 21.00. And before that, lie in bed for 20-30 minutes and read, draw or listen to an audiobook.
2. No sports
A common misconception about a hyperactive child is that he simply “needs to be allowed to run out and get tired,” that if he “is given to sports, he will waste his excessive energy and become like silk.” In fact, he doesn't have much strength, he just can't stop. And there is no stamina at all.
If such a child is further excited and “runs out”, you can only get evening hysterics: I’m wildly tired, but I still rage until I collapse.
In addition, sport requires not an uncontrolled, but a precisely measured energy flow. A hyperactive child is not able to direct his energy even at the everyday level. It is better to choose sections where the main focus is not the result, but the process, alternating stress and relaxation. They may be athletic, but they are certainly not professional.
3. Not slower, but more rhythmic
In a hyperactive child, impulses between the cortex and subcortex of the brain, which regulate activity and inhibition, are conducted more slowly than necessary.
As paradoxical as it sounds, a hyperactive child is somewhat of a drag. He thinks quickly, but runs out of steam even faster, and therefore simply cannot keep up with himself
This is a quick but “ragged” contact, a flashing light. Our main efforts should not be aimed at slowing things down or purposefully calming things down, but at making the child smoother and more rhythmic in all respects. Less "twitchy".
This is served by the same regime (measured, cyclically repeating circle of tasks - responsibilities, practices, types of rest), and small cycles during the preparation of lessons (if you are distracted every three or five minutes according to the plan, and not spontaneously, then you gradually learn to work these three minutes without being distracted).
The main idea is to find rhythm in any activity, to replace involuntary convulsive “switching on” and “switching off” from activity with rhythm.
4. Working with rhythm at school
Here, experienced teachers usually have their own tricks. They know that the child must be pulled out of his seat three times during the lesson under some pretext - to the blackboard or into the corridor. And that Anton will be less of a bother if you give him a separate assignment and don’t pay attention to the fact that he rocks in his chair during the test.
If the teacher doesn’t come up with anything like that, let’s take the initiative into our own hands. Agree with the teacher, for example, that the child can leave the classroom a couple of times for five minutes during the lesson. And set a timer on your child’s phone - but not with a sound signal. Sometimes this “short rhythm” is enough for behavior to significantly improve.
5. Be as careful as possible with grades
All children need this, but those who have problems with behavior and diligence need it most of all. Instill in your child that they are not what they have been given, be it an assessment or a diagnosis. And not what he was named or nicknamed. He is not the sum of his peculiarities and oddities, not “the same Ivanov.”
It is imperative to contrast the child’s school reputation with something strong and significant. Of course, it is ideal to teach a child in such a way and in such a place that he does not begin to develop such a reputation at all. But it doesn't always work out. In any case, beyond the threshold of the house - no assessments, reproaches and endless “what are you like...”. As it is, so thank God!
If a hyperactive child grows up in an atmosphere of constant discontent, it is more difficult for him to compensate for his characteristics.
And others begin to be added to them: craving for dangerous extreme sports, aggressiveness, addiction, severe mood swings. So you need to protect him from school, serve as a buffer, and, if possible, choose gentle, cheerful and understanding teachers.
6. Hand over the control panel in a timely manner
A hyperactive child cannot provide himself with constant involvement (see point two). Therefore, the parent must form a magic box around it, turning it on and off manually, but allowing it to gradually build endurance and perseverance. These things really get stronger with a lot of practice.
So we started the tomato for ten minutes, and we know for sure that for these ten minutes the child will sit quietly and solve equations with our hand on his head. The tomato rang, the child received a little encouragement, then tumbled on the rings for five minutes - and again ten minutes of mathematical detention under the hypnosis of the parent.
But as soon as the parent notices that the child is already able to provide this rhythm for himself, he hands the control panel to the child himself. It is extremely important to help him maintain his own rhythms. To do this, you can adapt a variety of techniques. From a board where you can mark things done with plus signs, to the aforementioned tomato or timer on your phone.
An extremely important task is to transfer a hyperactive child to self-sufficiency.
After all, if we continue to manage it manually, we will inevitably become extremely bored and infantilize the child. And if you just give up, then... someone will swim out, and someone will move away so that it will be difficult to catch up later. No, I’m not talking about grades, but about mental health, addictions, and lifestyle. Hyperactive children are at risk in many respects.
7. Look at yourself
Very often, hyperactive children are born to hyperactive parents. If this is about us, then let’s think about our own habits and those techniques that still help us adapt in society.
There are actually a lot of advantages to hyperactivity, especially in these times.
An adapted hyperactive person thinks faster and switches easily (while a non-adapted hyperactive person cannot switch at all). And although he gets tired quickly, he rests quickly.
A project manager who works in short cycles, an intraday trader, an easy-going journalist, a freelancer whose “feet feeds him,” a lover of constant business trips (arrive and sleep for a day) - hyperactive spirits, with skillful management of their uneven flow of energy, are able to quickly and easily move various mountains . But it is very important to learn how to properly handle your characteristics so that they do not develop into pathology, but, on the contrary, make a person more effective.
Modern parents have repeatedly heard such complex concepts as hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder. The concept of hyperactivity includes a set of deviations in the learning process and social sphere at a normal level of intellectual development. Sometimes school teachers give similar unspoken characteristics to active children. Teachers may, due to ignorance or lack of experience, call an active and inquisitive child with such a term. But only a psychologist and a neurologist, who are allowed to make such a diagnosis, can operate with such concepts. In the article, readers will learn how hyperactive children behave at school; recommendations for parents in working with such children.
Signs of hyperactivity in a child
The first signs of hyperactivity appear before the age of seven. Caregivers can detect the first warning signs by complaining about the behavior of their beloved child. The key phrase will be that such a child interferes with the lesson and distracts others. But sometimes parents are more willing to believe in the teacher’s incompetence than in the child’s hyperactivity.
You can check whether teachers are right about an overly loved child by consulting with teachers of development clubs, a child psychologist and a neurologist.
Experts say that hyperactive children are characterized by:
- Inability to sit quietly at a desk, on a chair, or on a children's rug for the duration of a lesson or 15 minutes.
- Restless body movements during class. The baby, sitting on a chair, begins to spin and squirm.
- Excessive talkativeness.
- Ignoring the teacher’s request to play quietly and calmly. And such an action is not an act of disobedience. The baby does not know how to perform such actions.
The following symptoms may be added to the above signs:
- The child does not know how to wait his turn during games or school activities.
- Problems concentrating. During class, such children are often distracted by foreign objects, which is why they fall.
- It is difficult for the child to concentrate when answering a question. The child does not hear it completely. For example, when asked which ones are not domestic, the baby will answer incorrectly, missing the particle “not.”
- Difficulty completing the task.
- The little one cannot complete the task to the end.
- Such children may disturb other students by interfering with their play or task.
- You may get the feeling that your beloved child is not listening to the teacher.
The father and mother of a hyperactive child should understand that reading lectures, prohibitions, and punishments are not suitable as educational techniques. Such children are sensitive to comments and shouting, but they cannot cope with their needs on their own. Parents should know that hyperactivity in a child, with the right actions, stops with the onset of adolescence.
- Develop joint tactics with the teacher to encourage and convince the child. It is the teacher who is the mother’s faithful ally. You should not hide the diagnosis from him; it is better to provide him with information about the psychological characteristics of the child’s behavior. The next step will be to ask the child to sit in places within the teacher’s field of view. Then the teacher should see when the child is tired and offer him an alternative activity: wipe the board, hand out notebooks, go get chalk. All possible strategies and options should be discussed with the teacher.
- Maintain a daily routine. With such children, it is worth systematically following the daily routine. When following the rules, praise the child. To keep a hyperactive child calmer, the duration of sleep should be at least 8 hours a day. You should also reduce or remove chocolate, too spicy and salty foods from your diet.
- Create a favorable environment in the home. The child should pay more attention. Treat your beloved child kindly and motivate him to succeed. Parents should try to evenly distribute the load so that the baby does not get tired. Organize your workspace so that there are no distractions. Children should be rewarded for doing their homework with something meaningful to them.
- , in which you can maximize the creative potential of your son or daughter. Sports and dance clubs can serve as ideal hobbies. But at the same time, it is worthwhile to distribute the load evenly, because the child should not be overtired.
- Monitor deadlines for completing work. Hyperactive children have a poor sense of time, so it is necessary to warn the child in advance about the end of games and walks.
The school reviewed recommendations and advice for parents. Thus, hyperactivity is not a disease or developmental disorder. This is a psychological feature that can be corrected with the help of love and respect.