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All children are inherently energetic and active compared to adults, but some are hyperactive. If you often find your kids running around the house while you’re trying to cook dinner, or they tend to interrupt conversations every few seconds, it’s likely they’re hyperactive.

Even though their actions may signal defiance, it’s not the case. They’re simply dealing with a genuine difference in the way we think, which makes sitting still and focusing on something even for a stretch of 15 minutes an incredibly difficult task for them. Such kids cannot be disciplined using traditional approaches and instead need a different approach to manage them.  

Hence, today, in this blog post, we at Delhi Public School Sushant Lok, ranked among the best CBSE school in Gurgaon, decided to share with you some smart and practical approaches to handling your children’s hyperactivity. If you’re really willing to learn the right way to manage your hyperactive little ones, make sure you read the blog post till the end.

• Be a keen observer

We have often seen that parents mostly try to fight their child’s hyperactivity, but trust us, it isn’t the right approach. Instead, we recommend that parents learn to predict and harness their child’s energy for desired results.

You can start by tracking your child’s energy peaks throughout the day to identify the times when they’re hyperactive, moderately active, or least active. Track their activities for at least a week to recognise their energy patterns. Once you’ve identified these patterns, schedule high-energy activities right before their energy surge hits.

For example, if you’ve observed that your child becomes hyperactive at around 4 PM every day, plan an outdoor play or a dance session at 3:45 PM. This proactive approach will channel their hyperactivity into meaningful activities, preventing frequent meltdowns.   

• Transform your communication style

We at Delhi Public School Sushant Lok have observed that hyperactive children generally process information in a different manner than how others do. They may struggle to understand and act upon long explanations or multi-stage instructions. The best way to handle such cases is by breaking your communication with them into simpler and specific formats.

For example, instead of saying ‘Go upstairs and brush your teeth,’ simply say ‘Brush your teeth now.’ Wait for compliance before giving them the next instruction. Whenever you communicate with hyperactive kids, make eye contact with them and try speaking in a calm, monotone voice to hold their attention.

• Create sensory-smart environments

Hyperactive children often have heightened sensitivity to their surroundings, so you must make necessary environmental modifications to handle their hyperactivity wisely.

Begin by removing overwhelming visual stimuli from areas where focus is required. For example, if your child’s study room has busy wallpaper, extra decorations, and uncluttered academic supplies, then remove what’s unnecessary and organise what’s needed. You can also create distinct energy zones in your house.

A high-energy area can have soft surfaces for jumping and moving, whereas a low-stimulation zone must have comfortable seating for focused reading and studying. Such zoning helps your child’s brain understand expectations for different spaces without constant verbal reminders.

• Implement strategic breaks and transitions

Hyperactive kids generally struggle more with effortless transitions. Hence, resistance and meltdowns become a common part of their routine.

Thankfully, you can fix this by creating strategic buffer time in their schedule and announcing it well in advance. You may give them warnings at 10 minutes, 5 minutes, or 1 minute before changing the activity. Try incorporating visual timers so they can see the time passing by rather than just hearing about it.

Creating a transition ritual can also work wonders. You can create any ritual, such as playing a specific song when it’s time to clean up or using a particular hand gesture to signal a switch in activities.

• Address sleep and nutrition as behaviour foundations

You cannot manage your child’s hyperactivity if you don’t make appropriate adjustments to their sleep and nutrition. Poor sleep and inconsistent nutrition can worsen hyperactivity symptoms. Hence, parents must focus on maintaining consistent bedtime routines that start 30 minutes before their scheduled sleep time.

You can give them some calming activities to wind down during this period, so they sleep on time for a restorative experience. For nutrition, prioritise maintaining consistent meal times rather than restrictive diets.

Protein-rich breakfasts and regular snack times can help hyperactive kids maintain steady blood sugar levels, which directly impacts their impulse control and attention span. Once you start maintaining these basic needs, other behavioural strategies naturally become more effective.

Conclusion

We at Delhi Public School Sushant Lok, one of the top school in Gurgaon, firmly believe that hyperactivity is not a flaw that needs to be fixed but is rather a unique way in which some children respond to the world around them. Having said that, we also completely understand that managing a hyperactive child can often be overwhelming for parents. But this is exactly where finding a unique approach that understands the child’s needs can actually come to your rescue.

With the right blend of patience and understanding, you can very well transform what appears to be a challenge into a core strength of your child. This blog post today was an effort to share with you all the basic steps you can take in this direction. Remember, even though the progress may take time to be visible, every consistent step you take will help lay the foundation for your kids to thrive and grow.