Here - Health Promotion Agency

Habits and behaviour
OVERACTIVE CHILDREN
There is no doubt that a substantial
proportion of children are
overactive, and some may be
described as suffering from ‘attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder’, as this
condition is now called. But quite a
lot of children who are difficult to
manage, and who have problems
concentrating, are not necessarily
overactive too. Alternatively, some
children may suffer from a mild
form of hyperactivity only. So, the
difficulty for parents, and sometimes
for health professionals, is deciding
what are ‘normal’ behaviour
problems in a child and what are
symptoms of attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder which require
early treatment and management.
Below are some tips on managing
an active child. If these, or the other
information in this chapter on dealing
with difficult behaviour, do not help,
then talk to your health visitor or GP.
You can also obtain information from
the Hyperactive Children’s Support
Group (see page 147).
•
Keep to a daily routine as
much as you can. Routine can
be important if your child is
restless or difficult. Routine may
also help you stay calmer and
stand up better to the strain.
•
Make giving your child time
and attention a part of the
routine. In different ways, your
child may be demanding your
attention most of the day, if not
most of the night as well. A lot of
the time you’ll have to say ‘no’.
This is easier to say, and may be
easier for your child to accept, if
there are certain times each day
when you do give all your
attention to your child.
•
Avoid difficult situations as
much as you can – for example,
by keeping shopping trips short.
It’s often no good even expecting
an overactive difficult child to sit
still at meals or behave well in a
supermarket. And try lowering
your expectations. Start by asking
your child to be still, or
controlled, or to concentrate, for
a very short time, then gradually
build up.
•
Try to get out every day to a
place where your child can run
around and really let go. Go to
a park, or a playground, or
whatever safe, open space there is.
Find ways of helping your child
burn off energy.
•
Avoid giving your child cola
drinks, tea and coffee. These
drinks all contain caffeine. Some
children are sensitive to this and it
can make them ‘jumpy’.
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