How To Deal With Restless Children: 6 Useful Tips
It is often said that you need to worry when you see an excessively quiet child. As a child, being very active is not only a natural condition, but also a demonstration of good health. Yet, today there is a tendency to label restless children as if they were victims of some disorder. Even if only if they move a little more than “normal”. So let’s see, specifically, to clarify this delicate topic.
Not all restless children are hyperactive
If you think your child is too restless, it is first of all important to make some distinctions. There may be children who are restless, hyperactive, but also simply very active or even voluntarily spiteful or naughty.
Fortunately , parents today have very detailed and accurate information on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD ).
However, with the increase in diagnosis that has occurred in recent years, the World Health Organization has taken very seriously the need to highlight some useful behaviors to analyze whether a child could suffer from this disorder:
- Difficulty paying attention to tasks that don’t have immediate reward or that don’t provide a high level of stimulation.
- Little attention to detail and low ability to concentrate.
- Easy to get distracted or inattentive when communicating orally.
- Short-term memory deficit and working memory.
- Inability to plan and organize tasks.
- Excessive motor activity and difficulty staying still.
- Impulsiveness and inability to evaluate the consequences of actions or opinions.
- Impatience and difficulty waiting for your turn in conversation, games or other activities.
What to do if your child is very restless
Babies have a lot of energy and this is perfectly normal. Sometimes, however, parents don’t know how to properly channel this enormous liveliness. In reality, often, your children only need adequate means to let off steam, understanding limits that must be clear and acceptable.
In fact, there are many children with excess energy but who are not hyperactive. In these cases, there are some considerations that you will always need to keep in mind. Let’s see together what they are.
Increase communication
If your child is very restless, it is good to make an effort to always understand the messages you send them. All children, in general, are a little anxious, especially when they don’t know what’s going to happen. This is why establishing fixed routines will benefit their behavior.
An active child needs constant communication, finds security and calm in a daily life without surprises or sudden changes and must be surrounded by a lot of affection and understanding.
Set very clear limits
When a child is not given strict rules, he feels lost and often begins to fidget. We are talking about insecurity which, many times, results in simple nervousness. The limits imposed by parents must be irrevocable but also clear. They must be maintained always and in any case, without ever showing the little one signs of hesitation.
Offer constant support
Your child will have to feel close to you, he needs to trust you as you accompany him towards his necessary autonomy. Never let him lack love and affection. Even in the years to come, try to always find a time and a space to be together. Games are fine, but we also refer to physical contact, cuddles, caresses, to share moments that will surely favor calm and serenity.
A personalized environment
Children love to feel useful. You can easily channel that excess energy to help them work together on household tasks, depending on their age. You can put a stool in the kitchen, for example, so that your child can help you beat eggs or prepare his own snack. Also, leave his toys and books close at hand, not too high, so he can get to pick them up himself.
Act in advance
Nobody knows his child better than a parent. So, be careful to recognize any warning signs. If you know that sugar turns him on even more, avoid giving him an excessive amount of candy.
In another situation, if for example he shows nervousness at a party or among friends, stop him before he can act in an exaggerated way. Once back home, give him a bath with hot water, giving him a massage to calm his mood.
Activities suitable for a restless child
Your child must be enabled to discharge excess accumulated energies. So take him to the park, let him run, jump and enjoy the outdoors, every day. Getting him to play sports can help him a lot to better channel the extra energy he has.
Also keep in mind that restless children do not like to sit, unless you can involve them in manual activities. That is why it is good to prefer puzzle games, constructions, or even clay or hand painting. By stimulating his motor activities, he will be happy to be at his desk.
Finally, it is advisable to practice relaxation techniques with your restless children. Children usually participate with pleasure if you explain to them well what it is. As soon as they notice a certain benefit in doing this, it is possible that they will repeat this type of activity even on their own.
