How To Handle Hyperactive Children
Hyperactivity in children is characterized by reckless behavior and too much activity. These children hardly get tired, cannot focus, and have short attention spans in general. Hyperactive children are poor in their performance; they cannot socialize with others and hardly participate in any group activities. In a maximum time when they grow old, they easily get a victim of depression, frustration, and poor self-esteem.
A Montessori caregiver in, Duarte, CA says that she has understood from her observation that coping with hyperactive children is tough. These children can seem unstable, bouncing from activity to activity with seemingly limitless energy. He or she may have difficulty in listening and following directions. Their performance in school is very poor and gets less than acceptable grades and demonstrates behavioral problems.
Monitoring hyperactive children can be mentally and physically exhausting. Your child’s inability to listen can lead to frustration and that frustration to anger, followed by guilt about being angry at your child. Parents of the hyperactive child remain anxious and stressed because of their odd behavior. Teachers in a class also find it difficult to handle a hyperactive child. To tame them, the common classroom practice is withholding recess or physical playtime as punishment. But according to the Montessori way of teaching taking away recess make the situation more badly.
A Montessori educationist in Durate, Ca has given some tips that will help both parents and teachers to tame the student.
The hyperactive child needs lots of physical activity to run off excess energy. Involve him in indoor or outdoor physical activities to make him tired. Walking is a great exercise to rejuvenate both body and mind. Psychiatrist prefers that children should be taken to walk in beautiful natural surroundings. It helps to soothe the nerve.
You cannot change your hyperactive child’s behavior in a day or two. Tell him to sit still in one place for five minutes and gradually increase the time. It will take time but, you will surely get a positive result in the future.
Both outdoor and indoor games work as therapy in the case of hyperactive children. Indore games like Uno, Chinese checker, chess will teach them how to concentrate on one subject. Outdoor games like table tennis, badminton, soccer, and cricket will also teach them to focus on the goal. At the same time, it helps to drain out the physical energy.
Diet plays a vital role. Home-cooked preservative-free food is always good for them. Provide them with a high protein diet like beans, cheese, eggs, meat, and nuts. It may improve concentration. Omega-3 fatty acid-rich food is good for them. Different types of fish like tuna, salmon, and other cold-water fish is a great source of this fatty acid. Apart from this, walnut, Brazil nuts, and olive and canola oils are good sources of omega3 fatty acids. Foods that should be avoided are candy, corn syrup, sugar, white rice, food made from white flour, and all sorts of junk food.
Spend as much time as possible with your hyperactive child. Pay attention and never neglect them. Involve in their school work and other activities. Appreciate them when they do something good.