Hyperactivity is a condition in which a child cannot sit still for a minute. Symptoms "on the face": babies are mobile, restless, unable to concentrate on any one activity. Often such children offend other children, irritate and distract adults with their behavior, and are constantly in a nervous, agitated state.

Between the ages of three and seven, as a rule, the peak of hyperexcitability occurs. But also, this time is characterized by significant changes in life: during this period, children are brought to kindergarten, they begin to take them to developmental studios and sections, and also prepare for admission to school. The child needs to master a huge number of skills and abilities, including the ability to communicate in a team, perceive and process information, perform simple tasks and requests. It was during these years that the hyperactive baby and his parents have the hardest time, and the abundance of information and new responsibilities that have appeared only worsen the condition of the child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

How to understand that a child is hyperactive how to cope with the surging problems and go through this difficult period with minimal losses?

Hyperactive child: reasons

Before proceeding with the diagnosis and treatment of a hyperactive toddler, it is worth finding out the causes of the neurological-behavioral disorder. This will allow you to more competently begin the process of treatment and correction.

Possible causes of the problem:

1. Hereditary factor... Genetic predisposition is considered one of the most common causes of hyperactivity.
2. Pathologies during pregnancy and childbirth(fetal hypoxia, threat of miscarriage, gestosis, difficult labor, cesarean section, etc.).
3. Low birth weight and prematurity.
4. Infectious diseases transferred by the mother during pregnancy and the child in the first weeks of life.
5. Exposure to adverse family relationships and stressful conditions.
6. Use during fetal development alcohol, tobacco products and some medicines.
7. Also, it is not excluded the impact of poor environmental conditions, lack of essential micronutrients and unhealthy diet (sweets and fast food).

Attention! It is worth noting that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is more common in boys than girls. That is associated with a higher weight of male newborns, which increases the risk of birth and intrauterine injuries.

Hyperactive child 3 years old - 4 years old: what to do

It is often during this period that parents begin to actively turn to specialists for help. This is due to the fact that a three-year-old child goes to a kindergarten or development group for the first time, where the signs of hyperexcitability begin to appear clearly, as well as aggravate problems with adaptation in the team.

The emergence of hyperactivity is also explained by the inability of the crumbs' nervous system to quickly cope with the increase in mental stress, new and incomprehensible requirements.

Signs of hyperactivity between 3 and 4 years of age

The signs of hyperexcitability of a child 3-4 years old include:

• uncontrollability, lack of response to requests and orders;
• chaotic movements, running without a goal;
• delay in speech function;
• inattention, forgetfulness;
• the baby crawls on the chair, jumps up, turns;
• increased anxiety, irascibility and hysteria;
• bad, restless sleep.

Treatment and correction of hyperexcitability in babies 3-4 years old.

• Mandatory classes with a child psychologist and speech therapist... The work of specialists will reduce feelings of anxiety and anxiety, develop speech, creative thinking, visual and auditory memory.
• Not recommended at this age competitive games... Better to visit the pool or buy a bike for your baby.
• Try to provide the child calm and friendly atmosphere in the house... A hyperactive toddler needs to feel protected and loved.

Hyperactive child 5 years old - 6 years old: what to do

At the age of 5-6 years, a deterioration in the condition of a child with hyperexcitability may occur, since at this time preparatory classes begin in the older groups of a preschool institution. In addition, the period is characterized by the active maturation of the brain structures, which can cause excessive fatigue in the baby.

Signs at 5 years old and at 6 years old

In addition to the typical signs of hyperactivity, a neurological-behavioral disorder at the age of 5-6 years is characterized by the appearance of:

• Nervous tics. Involuntary twitching of the facial muscles, contractions of the muscles of the body, limbs and neck, blinking, coughing, jerking and head shaking may appear.
• Excessive talkativeness. At the same time, the child is inclined to interrupt and not listen to the speech addressed to him.
• Frequent mood swings. Impulsiveness and impatience.
• Various complexes, phobias and persistent fears.

To improve the condition of a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, in addition to working with a psychologist and visits to a neurologist, a significant lifestyle correction will be required. This will help a 5-6 year old baby to quickly adapt to increasing loads:

• Pay attention to your sleep patterns. It is advisable to go to bed and get up at the same time. Before bed, do not overload the baby with information and reduce active games.
• Eliminate fast food, candy, baked goods, sodas, and sugary juices from your diet.
• Include leisurely walks before bedtime into your day's schedule.
• Add physical activity to the fidget's life. At this age, the child can already be enrolled in the sports section. This will release tension and reduce aggression.

Hyperactive child 7 years old

As a rule, at the age of seven, preparation for school and teaching in the first grade begin. New demands and challenges exacerbate the hyperactive child's problems. Hyperexcitability interferes with normal adaptation in the team and provokes the emergence of conflicts with peers and teachers. Due to restlessness, impatience and light
excitability, such a child is not able to calculate the consequences of his actions, which can lead to aggressiveness and antisocial actions.

Symptoms of hyperactivity in a seven year old child

At the age of seven, a hyperexcitable child is different:

• Inability to complete the work started to the end.
• Failure to sit through the whole lesson.
• Detachment during class and increased attention to extraneous stimuli.
• Mistakes in homework due to carelessness and absent-mindedness.
• Inability to reasonably organize their work.
• Constant loss of belongings, school supplies and books.

Preparing for school, if your child is hyperactive, what to do, 7 years old

To facilitate the adaptation of the baby to school duties, it is necessary:

• Make up a strict, strictly followed daily routine.
• Try to avoid persistent rejection and disgust for school.
• Find out exactly what problems interfere with the cognitive process (undeveloped auditory memory, weak logic or figurative thinking).
• Form a positive attitude towards the educational process.
• Prepare in advance for the upcoming stress at school.

If you have an anxious child, an aggressive child

One of the most common and problematic forms of behavior disorder in a hyperactive child is child aggression. In order to effectively cope with this disorder, it is necessary first of all to determine the cause of the appearance of aggression.

Attention! Most often, with the help of aggression, tantrums and antisocial behavior, the child tries to draw the attention of others to himself. Lack of care, love and support makes a hyperexcitable toddler show negative emotions, anxiety and aggression.

To correct the aggressive behavior of a child, it is recommended to contact a family psychologist, since this problem often affects all family members. After all, only mutual understanding and close contact with the baby can improve the condition and behavior of the little aggressor.

Every child is active and inquisitive, but there are children whose activity is increased in comparison with their peers. Can such children be called hyperactive or is this a manifestation of the child's character? And is the child's hyperactive behavior normal or does it require treatment?

What is hyperactivity

This is the abbreviated name for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, which is also abbreviated as ADHD. This is a very common childhood brain disorder that also affects many adults. According to statistics, 1-7% of children have hyperactivity syndrome. Boys are diagnosed with it 4 times more often than girls.

Timely recognized hyperactivity, in which therapy is required, allows the child to form normal behavior and better adapt in a team among other people. If a child's ADHD is left unaddressed, it persists into an older age. A teenager with such a disorder acquires school skills worse, is more prone to antisocial behavior, he is hostile and aggressive.

ADHD - a syndrome of excessive impulsivity, hyperactivity and stable inattention Signs of ADHD

Not every active and easily aroused child is categorized as having hyperactivity disorder.

To diagnose ADHD, you should identify the main symptoms of such a disorder in a child, which are manifested:

1. Attention deficit.
2. Impulsiveness.
3. Hyperactivity.

Symptoms usually begin before the age of 7 years. Most often, parents notice them at 4 or 5 years old, and the most frequent age period for contacting a specialist is 8 years and older, when the child is faced with many tasks at school and around the house, where his concentration and independence is needed. Babies who are not yet 3 years old are not immediately diagnosed. They are monitored for a while to make sure they have ADHD.

Depending on the predominance of specific signs, two subtypes of the syndrome are distinguished - with attention deficit and hyperactivity. Separately, there is a mixed subtype of ADHD, in which the child has symptoms of both attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder.

Signs of hyperactivity are more common in children 4-5 years old

Attention deficit symptoms:

1. The child cannot concentrate on objects for a long time. He often has sloppy mistakes.
2. The child does not manage to maintain attention for a long time, which is why he is not collected during the task and often does not complete the task to the end.
3. When a child is approached, it seems that he is not listening.
4. If you give a direct instruction to a child, he does not follow it or begins to follow it and does not finish it.
5. It is difficult for a child to organize his activities. He has frequent switching from one activity to another.
6. The child does not like tasks that require long mental stress. He tries to avoid them.
7. It is not uncommon for a child to lose the things he needs.
8. The kid is easily distracted by extraneous noise.
9. In everyday life, the child is noted for increased forgetfulness.

Manifestations of impulsivity and hyperactivity:

1. The child often gets up.
2. When a child is anxious, he moves his legs or arms vigorously. In addition, the baby will periodically shiver in the chair.
3. He rises from a place very abruptly and runs often.
4. It is difficult for him to participate in quiet games.
5. His actions can be described as "wound up".
6. During classes, he may shout from a place or make noise.
7. The child answers before hears the question in full.
8. He can't wait for his turn during class or play.
9. The child constantly interferes with other people's activities or their conversations.

To make a diagnosis, a child must have at least 6 of the above signs, and they must be noted for a long time (at least six months).

Childhood hyperactivity manifests itself in the inability to sit still How hyperactivity manifests itself at an early age

Hyperactivity syndrome is detected not only in schoolchildren, but also in children before school age and even in babies.

In the smallest, this problem is manifested by the following symptoms:

• Faster physical development when compared with peers. Hyperactive babies roll over, crawl, and walk much faster.
• The appearance of whims when the child is tired. Hyperactive babies are often excited and more active before going to bed.
• Shorter sleep duration. A toddler with ADHD sleeps much less than it should be at his age.
• Difficulty falling asleep (many children need to be rocked) and very light sleep. A hyperactive child reacts to any rustle, and if he wakes up, it is very difficult for him to fall asleep again.
• A very violent reaction to a loud sound, a new environment and unfamiliar faces. Because of these factors, babies with hyperactivity get excited and become more capricious.
• By quickly switching attention. After offering the baby a new toy, the mother notices that the new object attracts the baby's attention for a very short time.
• Strong affection for mom and fear of strangers.

If the baby is often moody, reacts violently to new surroundings, sleeps little and falls asleep hard, can this be the first signs of ADHD ADHD or temperament?

The increased activity of the child can be a manifestation of his innate temperament.

Unlike children with ADHD, a temperamental healthy child:

Causes of hyperactivity in children

Previously, the onset of ADHD was associated mainly with brain damage, for example, if the newborn suffered hypoxia while in the womb or during childbirth. Nowadays, studies have confirmed the influence on the appearance of the syndrome of hyperactivity of the genetic factor and disorders of intrauterine development of the baby. The development of ADHD is promoted by too early childbirth, caesarean section, low birth weight, a long anhydrous period in childbirth, the use of forceps and similar factors.

ADHD can occur during difficult childbirth, impaired intrauterine development, or inherited What to do

If you suspect your child has hyperactivity disorder, the first thing to do is go to a specialist. Many parents do not go to the doctor right away, because they do not dare to admit the child's problem and are afraid of the condemnation of their acquaintances. By doing so, they waste time, as a result of which hyperactivity becomes the cause of serious problems with the child's social adaptation.

There are also parents who bring a completely healthy child to a psychologist or psychiatrist when they cannot or do not want to find an approach to him. This is often observed during crisis periods of development, for example, at 2 years old or during a three-year crisis. At the same time, the baby does not have any hyperactivity.

Having found some signs of hyperactivity in your child, contact a specialist without postponing this problem until later.

In all these cases, without the help of a specialist, it will not work to determine whether the child really needs medical help or just has a bright temperament.

If the child is confirmed to have hyperactivity disorder, then the following methods will be used in his treatment:

1. Explanatory work with parents. The doctor should explain to mom and dad why the child has hyperactivity, how this syndrome manifests itself, how to behave with the child and how to raise him correctly. Thanks to this educational work, parents stop blaming themselves or each other for the child's behavior, and also understand how to behave with the baby.
2. Changing learning conditions. If a student with poor academic performance is diagnosed with hyperactivity, he is transferred to a specialized class. This helps to cope with the delay in the formation of school skills.
3. Drug therapy. Drugs prescribed for ADHD are symptomatic and effective in 75-80% of cases. They help facilitate the social adaptation of children with hyperactivity and improve their intellectual development. As a rule, medications are prescribed for a long period, sometimes until adolescence.

ADHD treatment is carried out not only with medication, but also under the supervision of a psychiatrist Komarovsky's opinion

The popular doctor has come across in his practice many times with children diagnosed with ADHD. The main difference between such a medical diagnosis and hyperactivity as character traits, Komarovsky calls the fact that a healthy child does not interfere with hyperactivity to develop and communicate with other members of society. If a child has a disease, he, without the help of parents and doctors, cannot become a full-fledged member of the team, normally study and communicate with peers.

To make sure whether a child is healthy or has ADHD, Komarovsky advises contacting a child psychologist or psychiatrist, since only a qualified specialist will not only easily identify a child's hyperactivity as a disease, but will also help parents understand how to raise a child with ADHD.

• When communicating with your baby, it is important to establish contact. If required, for this child, you can touch the shoulder, turn towards you, remove the toy from his field of vision, turn off the TV.
• Parents should define specific and enforceable rules of conduct for their child, but it is important that they are followed at all times. In addition, each such rule must be clear to the child.
• The space in which the hyperactive child resides must be completely safe.
• The regimen should be adhered to constantly, even if the parents have a day off. According to Komarovsky, it is very important for hyperactive children to wake up, eat, walk, swim, go to bed and perform other usual daily activities at the same time.
• All difficult tasks for hyperactive children must be broken down into parts that will be understandable and easy to do.
• The child should be constantly praised, noting and emphasizing all the positive actions of the baby.
• Find what the hyperactive child does best, and then create the environment for the child to be able to do the job and get satisfaction from it.
• Provide the hyperactive child with the opportunity to spend excess energy channeling it in the right direction (for example, walking the dog, going to sports clubs).
• When going to the store or on a visit with your child, think about your actions in detail, for example, what to take with you or what to buy for the child.
• Parents should also take care of their own rest, because, as Komarovsky emphasizes, it is very important for a hyperactive baby that mom and dad are calm, peaceful and adequate.

You can learn even more about hyperactive children in the following video.

You will learn about the role of parents and many important nuances by watching the video of clinical psychologist Veronica Stepanova.

Children's hyperactivity is a condition in which the activity and excitability of the child is much higher than the norm. This causes a lot of trouble for parents, educators and teachers. And the child himself suffers from difficulties in communicating with peers and adults, which is fraught with the formation of negative psychological characteristics personality.

How to identify and treat hyperactivity, which specialists should be consulted to make a diagnosis, how to properly build communication with a child? All this you need to know in order to raise a healthy baby.

What is hyperactivity?

It is a neurological-behavioral disorder that is often referred to in the medical literature as hyperactive child syndrome.

It is characterized by the following violations:

• impulsive behavior;
• significantly increased speech and motor activity;
• attention deficit.

The disease leads to poor relationships with parents, peers, poor school performance. According to statistics, this disorder occurs in 4% of schoolchildren, in boys it is diagnosed 5-6 times more often.

The difference between hyperactivity and activity

Hyperactivity syndrome differs from an active state in that the behavior of the baby creates problems for the parents, those around him and himself.

It is necessary to contact a pediatrician, neurologist or child psychologist in the following cases: motor disinhibition and lack of attention are constantly manifested, behavior makes it difficult to communicate with people, school performance is low. You also need a doctor's consultation if the child is aggressive towards others.

Causes

The reasons for hyperactivity can be different:

• premature or complicated labor;
• intrauterine infections;
• the influence of harmful factors at work during a woman's pregnancy;
• bad ecology;
• stress and physical overload of a woman during gestation;
• hereditary predisposition;
• unbalanced nutrition during pregnancy;
• immaturity of the central nervous system of the newborn;
• disturbances in the metabolism of dopamine and other neurotransmitters in the central nervous system of the infant;
• overestimated requirements for the child of parents and teachers;
• violations of purine metabolism in a baby.

Provoking factors

This condition can be triggered by late toxicosis, the use of drugs during pregnancy without the consent of the doctor. Possible exposure to alcohol, drugs, smoking during gestation. Read more about the effects of smoking on pregnancy →

Conflict relationships in the family, domestic violence can contribute to the emergence of hyperactivity. Low academic performance, due to which the child is exposed to criticism from teachers and punishment from parents, is another predisposing factor.

Symptoms

Signs of hyperactivity are similar at any age:

• anxiety;
• restlessness;
• delay in the development of speech;
• irritability and tearfulness;
• poor sleep;
• stubbornness;
• inattention;
• impulsiveness.

In newborns

Hyperactivity in children under one year old - infants is indicated by anxiety and increased motor activity in the crib, the brightest toys cause them a short interest. On examination, such children often show stigmas of dysembryogenesis, including epicantal folds, abnormal structure of the auricles and their low location, Gothic palate, cleft lip, cleft palate.

In children 2-3 years old

Parents begin to notice the manifestations of this condition most often from the age of 2 or from an even earlier age. The child is characterized by increased moodiness.

Already at the age of 2, mom and dad see that it is difficult to interest the baby with something, he is distracted from the game, turns on a chair, is in constant motion. Usually such a child is very restless, makes noise, but sometimes a 2-year-old baby surprises with his silence, lack of desire to come into contact with parents or peers.

Child psychologists believe that sometimes this behavior precedes the appearance of motor and speech disinhibition. At two years old, parents can observe signs of aggression in a baby and an unwillingness to obey adults, ignoring their requests and demands.

From the age of 3, manifestations of selfish traits become noticeable. The child seeks to dominate his peers in collective games, provokes conflict situations, interferes with everyone.

For preschoolers

The hyperactivity of the preschooler is often manifested by impulsive behavior. Such children interfere in the conversations and affairs of adults, do not know how to play collective games. Particularly painful for parents are the hysteria and whims of a 5-6-year-old baby in crowded places, his violent expression of emotions in the most inappropriate environment.

In children preschool age restlessness is clearly manifested, they do not pay attention to the comments made, interrupt, shout down their peers. It is completely useless to reprimand and scold a 5-6-year-old child for hyperactivity, he simply ignores information and poorly learns the rules of behavior. Any activity attracts him for a short time, he is easily distracted.

Varieties

Behavioral disorder, which often has a neurological background, can proceed in different ways.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

This violation is characterized by the following behavioral features:

• listened to the task, but could not repeat it, immediately forgetting the meaning of what was said;
• cannot concentrate and complete the assignment, although he understands what his task is;
• does not listen to the interlocutor;
• does not respond to comments.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

This disorder is characterized by the following signs: fussiness, verbosity, increased physical activity, the desire to be in the center of events. Also characterized by frivolity of behavior, a tendency to take risks and adventures, which often create life-threatening situations.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

It is referred to in the medical literature as ADHD. You can talk about such a syndrome if the child has the following behavioral features:

• cannot concentrate on completing a specific task;
• throws the job started without completing it to the end;
• selective attention, unstable;
• negligence, inattention in everything;
• does not pay attention to the speech addressed, ignores offers of help in completing a task if it causes him difficulties.

Disorders of attention and hyperactivity at any age interfere with organizing their work, accurately and correctly completing the task, without being distracted by external interference. In everyday life, hyperactivity and attention deficit lead to forgetfulness, frequent loss of things.

Disorders of attention with hyperactivity are fraught with difficulties in following even the simplest instructions. Such children are often in a hurry, commit rash acts with which they can harm themselves or others.

Possible consequences

At any age, this behavioral disorder interferes with social contact. Due to hyperactivity in preschool children attending kindergarten, it is difficult to participate in collective games with peers, to communicate with them and educators. Therefore, visiting kindergarten becomes a daily psychotrauma, which can adversely affect the further development of the personality.

Students' performance suffers, school attendance causes only negative emotions. The desire to learn, to learn new things disappears, teachers and classmates are annoying, contact with them has only a negative connotation. The child withdraws into himself or becomes aggressive.

The impulsive behavior of a child sometimes poses a threat to his health. This is especially true for children who break toys, conflict, fight with other children and adults.

If you do not seek help from a specialist, a person may develop a psychopathic personality type with age. Hyperactivity in adults usually begins during childhood. One in five children with the disorder will have symptoms into adulthood.

The following features of the manifestation of hyperactivity are often observed:

• a tendency to aggression towards others (including parents);
• suicidal tendencies;
• inability to participate in dialogue, to make a constructive joint decision;
• lack of skills in planning and organizing their own work;
• forgetfulness, frequent loss of necessary things;
• refusal to solve tasks that require mental stress;
• fussiness, long talk, irritability;
• fatigue, tearfulness.

Diagnostics

A baby's attention deficit and hyperactivity become noticeable to parents from an early age, but the diagnosis is made by a neurologist or psychologist. Usually, hyperactivity in a 3-year-old child, if it occurs, is no longer in doubt.

Diagnosing hyperactivity is a multi-step process. Anamnesis data (course of pregnancy, childbirth, dynamics of physical and psychomotor development, diseases suffered by the child) are collected and analyzed. The specialist is interested in the opinion of the parents themselves about the development of the baby, the assessment of his behavior at 2 years old, at 5 years old.

The doctor needs to find out how the adaptation to kindergarten went. During the reception, parents should not tug at the child, make comments to him. It is important for the doctor to see his natural behavior. If the baby has reached the age of 5, child psychologist will conduct tests to determine attentiveness.

The final diagnosis is made by a neurologist and child psychologist after receiving the results of electroencephalography and MRI of the brain. These examinations are necessary to exclude neurological diseases, the consequence of which may be impaired attention and hyperactivity.

Laboratory methods are also important:

• determination of the presence of lead in the blood to exclude intoxication;
• biochemical blood test for thyroid hormones;
• a complete blood count to rule out anemia.

Special methods can be used: consultations with an ophthalmologist and audiologist, psychological testing.

Treatment

If the diagnosis of "hyperactivity" is made, it is necessary to carry out complex therapy. It includes medical and educational activities.

Educational work

Specialists in child neurology and psychology will explain to parents how to deal with their child's hyperactivity. Kindergarten teachers and teachers in schools also need to have the appropriate knowledge. They should teach parents the correct behavior with a child, help to overcome difficulties in communicating with him. Experts will help the student to master the techniques of relaxation and self-control.

Modification of conditions

You need to praise and encourage the baby for any success and good deeds. Emphasize the positive qualities of character, support any positive endeavors. You can keep a diary with your child, where you can record all his achievements. In a calm and friendly tone, talk about the rules of behavior and communication with others.

Already from the age of 2, the baby should get used to the daily routine, sleep, eat and play at a certain time.

From the age of 5, it is desirable that he has his own living space: a separate room or a corner fenced off from the common room. There should be a calm atmosphere in the house, quarrels of parents and scandals are unacceptable. It is advisable to transfer the student to a class with fewer students.

To reduce hyperactivity at 2-3 years old, children need a sports corner (wall bars, children's bars, rings, rope). Exercise and play can help you release tension and spend energy.

What parents shouldn't do:

• constantly scold and scold, especially in front of strangers;
• humiliate the baby with mocking or rude remarks;
• constantly speak strictly with the child, give instructions in an orderly tone;
• prohibit something without explaining to the child the reason for his decision;
• give too difficult tasks;
• demand exemplary behavior and only excellent grades in school;
• carry out household chores that were assigned to the child, if he did not complete them;
• to accustom to the idea that the main task is not to change behavior, but to receive a reward for obedience;
• apply methods of physical influence in case of disobedience. Learn more about the impact of physical punishment on children →

Drug therapy

Medical treatment of hyperactivity disorder in children plays only an auxiliary role. It is prescribed in the absence of an effect from behavioral therapy and special training.

For elimination symptoms of ADHD the drug Atomoxetin is used, but its use is possible only as directed by a doctor, there are undesirable effects. Results appear after about 4 months of regular use.

If the baby is diagnosed with this, psychostimulants may also be prescribed. They are used in the morning. In severe cases, tricyclic antidepressants are used under medical supervision.

Games with hyperactive children

Even with board and quiet games, the hyperactivity of a 5-year-old child is noticeable. He constantly attracts the attention of adults with erratic and aimless body movements. Parents need to spend more time with the baby, communicate with him. Cooperative games are very useful.

Effectively alternating quiet board games - bingo, picking up puzzles, checkers, with outdoor games - badminton, football. Summer offers many opportunities to help a child with hyperactivity.

During this period, you need to strive to provide the baby with country rest, long hikes, and teach swimming. During walks, talk more with the child, tell him about plants, birds, natural phenomena.

Nutrition

Parents need to make dietary adjustments. The diagnosis made by specialists implies the need to comply with meal times. The diet should be balanced, the amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates should correspond to the age norm.

It is advisable to exclude fried, spicy and smoked foods, carbonated drinks. Eat less sweets, especially chocolate, increase the amount of vegetables and fruits consumed.

Hyperactivity at school age

Increased hyperactivity in school-age children forces parents to seek medical attention. After all, the school makes completely different requirements for the growing up person than preschool institutions... He must memorize a lot, gain new knowledge, solve complex problems. A child is required to be attentive, perseverant, and able to concentrate.

Study problems

Disorders of attention and hyperactivity are noticed by teachers. The child in the lesson is dispersed, motor active, does not respond to comments, interferes with the lesson. Hyperactivity junior schoolchildren at 6-7 years old leads to the fact that children learn the material poorly, carelessly do their homework. Therefore, they constantly receive criticism for poor performance and bad behavior.

Teaching hyperactive children often becomes a major problem. A real struggle begins between such a child and a teacher, since the student does not want to fulfill the requirements of the teacher, and the teacher is fighting for discipline in the class.

Problems with classmates

Difficult to adapt to children's team, it is difficult to find a common language with peers. The student begins to withdraw into himself, becomes secretive. In group games or discussions, he stubbornly defends his point of view, not listening to the opinions of others. At the same time, he often behaves rudely, aggressively, especially if they do not agree with his opinion.

Correction of hyperactivity is necessary for the successful adaptation of the baby to the children's team, good learning ability and further socialization. It is important to examine the baby at an early age and carry out timely professional treatment. But in any case, parents should be aware that most of all the child needs understanding and support.

Useful video about raising hyperactive children

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Symptoms of hyperactivity in a child

Starting from the age of 3 years, the child demonstrates miracles of activity - opens and closes lockers, runs around the house, scattering things and grabbing everything that aroused interest. This is because the possibilities of mastering the surrounding world have expanded with the mastery of walking. But should every such activity be a concern for parents?

At the end of the article, we have prepared for you a checklist "Games for logic and thinking for children under 5". Download it and find out the most interesting intellectual games for children from 2 to 5 years old!

Experts believe that hyperactivity in a 3-year-old child can be suspected when:

• delayed speech development;
• aggravation of stubbornness, uncontrollability, lack of response to prohibitions;
• chaotic movements, "motor awkwardness";
• excessive physical activity (sitting on a chair, the child spins, jumps up, constantly moves his arms and legs);
• inattention, lack of perseverance, forgetfulness;
• frequent transition from one unfinished business to another;
• irascibility, hysteria, imbalance, tendency to conflicts with peers;
• headaches, the appearance of phobias (fears);
• bad dream.

If a child has more than 6 of these signs, it is worth contacting a psychotherapist or pediatric neurologist for professional diagnostics.

Hyperactivity in children 5 years old can be caused not only by mental disorders. The following factors should also suggest that there is a problem:

1. Unfavorable course of pregnancy (stress, smoking, hypoxia, unhealthy maternal nutrition)
2. Unfavorable childbirth (rapid or, conversely, protracted, childbirth after stimulation, prematurity - up to 38 weeks)
3. The presence of neurological diseases in a child, conflicts in the family, excessive severity in relation to the child, unhealthy diet, lead poisoning.

A hyperactive child. What to do?

Treatment of hyperactivity in children 3, 4, 5 and 6 years old is carried out with medication and non-medication. In any case, at this age, when a diagnosis is made, therapy is prescribed only by a doctor.

The main methods for correcting hyperactivity in a child 5 years old and younger are:

• classes with a psychologist and speech therapist... Specialists will help reduce anxiety, develop speech, memory, attention, and also choose activities in which the baby will feel confident
• prohibition of participation in competitive games... An overactive child 3, 4, 5, or 6 years old may be advised to swim, ride a bicycle and other static loads;
• relaxation sessions in order to normalize the work of the central nervous system;
• behavioral correction... Prohibitions and refusals are minimized within reason. Such babies have a high threshold for negative emotions, so it is better to create positive emotions for them and not forget to praise for their successes;
• family psychotherapy... Establishing a calm atmosphere in the family;
• drug therapy... This method is most often used in especially advanced cases, when other methods do not help or help little.

What should parents of a hyperactive child 3, 4, 5 and 6 do?

If the above methods need to be entrusted to specialists, then parents can use the following methods on their own to help a child aged 3-6 years to cope with the problem.

• Use a positive parenting model. Praise your child more often, encourage even the smallest successes. Prohibitions are only permissible when it comes to the safety of the child. Find an area of ​​activity in which your little one can successfully demonstrate their abilities and feel their worth.
• Create a daily routine for your baby. It is imperative to prescribe instructions in it - to wash the dishes, make the bed, take out the trash, help mom with cleaning, and so on. The mode should also indicate a clear time for watching cartoons and games. Don't let your child get overexcited. The baby should also go to bed at the same time. Moreover, the main thing is to follow all these rules, otherwise they will simply be discounted. Let the baby get used to order and measured actions, this is especially important at primary school age.
• Address requests to the child calmly, without orders and shouts. Learn to control yourself even when your nerves are at the limit, because you are a role model. Teach the kid too to think about the consequences of their actions. Let him learn the rules of conduct and begin to follow them.
• Spend more time with your baby. Indeed, often defiant behavior is associated precisely with the desire to attract the attention of parents who are too busy with work or household chores.

If hyperactivity in a child appears at the age of 3 years, then by the age of 5 and 6 years, it can be successfully dealt with with the support of parents and timely therapy.

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The concept of childhood hyperactivity still causes a lot of controversy and controversy among pediatricians.

It is difficult to determine which child actually has behavioral problems that could negatively affect their future, and which just has a bright temperament.

Often, parents complain about their child because they cannot or do not want to find an approach to him. There are cases when dangerous symptoms are left unattended, and the child's real hyperactivity develops into more serious problems with his social adaptation in kindergarten, then at school and further in public life.

In this article, we will tell you how to recognize a hyperactive child from infancy and how to find the right approach to him. But first, let's understand the basic concepts.

Medical hyperactivity

This term means not only excessive mobility, inattention and capriciousness of the baby, as many mothers think. This is mainly a special state of the nervous system and cerebral cortex, when its cells too actively form nerve impulses.

These processes do not allow the baby to sit still, interfere with focusing attention, switching from tantrums, calming down, and also falling asleep.

True hyperactivity can only be seen or suspected by a neurologist, so do not try to make such diagnoses to your baby on your own.

And it is also important that a hyperactive baby can be not only at such a difficult age as 3-4 years, but also from infancy.

The sooner you recognize such features of the nervous system in a child and begin to take action, the less difficulties you will have in the future.

7 signs of a hyperactive child

Hyperactivity is also called motor disinhibition, but should not be confused with the healthy activity of normal children. A completely healthy baby can also be very mobile, screaming and talking loudly, thus expressing his emotions. He can even often be capricious and insistently demand his own.

How to distinguish individual characteristics your child from a neurological problem? Here are 7 signs that should alert you in the behavior of a nursing child:

1 Hyperactive babies are well developed physically, they begin to roll over, sit down, crawl and walk faster than their peers. Because of this, they cause a lot of admiration from their parents and relatives.

But often, such unexpected and rapid leaps in development lead to falls from sofas and other troubles, for which even the most vigilant parents are simply not ready.

They don't know whether to rejoice or cry when the child is already crawling and playing with might and main, while his peers, meanwhile, are peacefully lying in the crib.

There may still be two options: either your child is simply developing very quickly, or this is one of the signs of hyperactivity. In the second case, the problem will still make itself felt in the future and will manifest itself in other signs.

2 Children are often naughty when their strength is running out and it is time for them to sleep. They seem to become even more active, their excitability increases, and only mother's hands or motion sickness, after long torment, can help put him to bed.

3 Babies with signs of hyperactivity sleep surprisingly little, even in the first months of life. While their peers sleep more than they are awake, these children may play at intervals. cry for about 4-5 hours straight.

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4 The child cannot fall asleep for a long time, requires motion sickness, and his sleep is very sensitive. The kid is sensitive to every rustle, he may suddenly wake up and have a hard time falling asleep again.

5 The kid reacts very violently to a change of scenery, new faces and loud sounds. All this can lead him to real delight, and, at the same time, makes him even more capricious and attract your attention.

The more people in the room with the child, the more capricious he becomes.

6 Children do not know how to focus their attention on something for a long time. This can be seen even at a very early age: it is easy to lure a baby with a new toy, but he quickly gets bored with it. He seems to begin to switch his attention from one subject to another even faster.

7 A characteristic feature of hyperactive children, in total with all of the above, is their attachment to their mother and at the same time fear of strangers. They find it difficult to get along with the guests, reluctantly go into their arms and seem to hide behind their mother. They can also be jealous of a mother for other people's children, take away toys from them and turn any conflict into a hysteria.

We have listed not the unconditional signs of hyperactive children, but only those distinctive features that can alert you and make you go to see a pediatric neurologist.

But in order not to be mistaken and not worry in vain, we will describe the behavior of a healthy normal child who may have some of the above signs due to his innate temperament.

Temperamental healthy children differ from their hyperactive peers in the following ways:

1 They like to run or be active in some other way, but after that they come to lie down or sit quietly, for example, watching cartoons. Thus, they are able to calm down on their own. But here we are talking about older children, closer to the age of one.

2 They have practically no problems with sleep, they fall asleep quickly and sleep at the appropriate time for their age.

3 Night sleep is usually long and restful. If we talk about babies 2-3 months old, then they can wake up for night feedings, but they also fall asleep easily and do not cry in the middle of the night.

4 Children quickly understand where the danger is and can experience a sense of fear. Subsequently, they do not seek to climb into a dangerous place again.

5 Easily master the word "no", which allows you to quickly communicate with your child in the future.

6 Children can easily be distracted from hysteria by a new subject or story, they are able to switch and immediately stop crying.

7 They are almost never aggressive towards you or other children. They give them to play with their toys, sometimes after mother's persuasion.

8 Of course, the character of the parents is passed on to their child. It is possible that the mom or dad of an active child has a bright temperament and was the same fidget in childhood. But remember that such features could be transmitted not only from parents, but also from grandparents, as well as from other relatives, great-grandmothers and great-grandfathers.

Causes of hyperactivity

Changes in brain cells that cause hyperactivity do not last a lifetime if parents choose the right tactics for the behavior and upbringing of their baby. Therefore, this condition cannot be called a disease and cannot be cured, but can only contribute to the early "outgrowth" of childhood hyperactivity.

And this condition occurs, as a rule, as a result of one of the following reasons:

• giving birth to a baby by caesarean section,
• difficult childbirth, with a long anhydrous period, hypoxia of the child, or using forceps,
• premature or low birth baby
• nervous system the child could undergo changes even at the stage of intrauterine development due to bad habits, past illness or other unfavorable environmental factors.

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Raising a hyperactive toddler

The upbringing and daily routine of such a child needs to be given special attention if you do not want his condition to worsen. Leaving the problem unattended can lead to many problems in the future, when the child grows up and he has to independently adapt in society.

Since the baby's nervous system is very vulnerable, it cannot be tested again.

This means that any whim and hysteria should be stopped at the very beginning, not trying to punish the child as an educational moment. At the same time, try not to indulge these whims and not follow the child's lead on every occasion, but imperceptibly distract him and switch attention. Yes, this may require a lot of patience and resourcefulness from the parents, but it will not allow the little tomboy to be spoiled too much. After all, at a very early age, he is smart enough to understand how to get his way. Explain the meaning of the word "no" to your child, gently and persistently.

In all these endeavors, you will need to curb your own character and exclude all negative emotions from communication with your child.

During the day, try not to expose your baby to unnecessarily vivid impressions and exclude unexpected situations.

Noisy companies, unexpected and numerous guests, crowds of people on the street should not bother your baby and shake his nervous system.

But the best way to relax for him will be going out into nature in a narrow circle of his family, where he can throw out his energy. After such a rest, your baby will fall asleep peacefully and without difficulty.

Hello dear reader! If you see these lines, it means that there is a unique child with hyperactivity in your environment (son, daughter, foster child, nephew) or you suspect it and are looking for answers to questions from this category. First of all, I will say that you have come to the right place.

It should be noted right away that hyperactivity is not a problem. In no case should one consider and call a child “difficult” because of such a feature (a common mistake of psychologically-pedagogically unprepared people). The presented material justifies this thesis, will allow you to understand what hyperactivity is, and how to create the most comfortable psychological conditions for a special child for successful socialization and disclosure of personal potential (you will receive practical recommendations).

Hyperactivity concept

The full name of the feature under consideration is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Its study is at the junction of several areas - psychology, medicine (neurology and pediatrics), pedagogy. As a result, you can find different alternative names for ADHD:

• Neurologists call this phenomenon "motor awkwardness" or "minimal cerebral movement disorder."
• Psychologists, focusing on the child's ability to fine motor skills and orientation in space, define ADHD as "hyperactivity" or "increased motor activity."

ADHD began to be viewed as a phenomenon of the emotional-volitional sphere a little over 20 years ago. Prior to this, ADHD was categorized as MAD (mental retardation). But numerous studies have refuted this differentiation. Yes, the causes of DMD and ADHD are identical - organic brain damage to the child in the first months of life or during the mother's pregnancy. However, with a competent approach of the adult environment, children with DMD and ADHD are able to achieve different results.

From the point of view of clinical psychology, ADHD currently belongs to hyperkinetic disorders (code F 90 according to ICD 10 revision), group F 90.0 ("impaired activity and attention"). Hyperactivity is diagnosed provided that at least 8 of the following 14 signs made themselves felt in the first 7 years of a child's life and last at least six months.

1. Intolerant ("well, when already"), restless (fidgeting in a chair, jerking his legs).
2. Can't sit still, tries to get up in any conditions (transport, home, kindergarten or school).
3. Quickly distracted by the slightest irritant right during a conversation or while doing something (butterfly, noise, cat).
4. Barely waiting for his turn in games, prefers mobile ones, for example, like catch-ups (but even there an intolerable desire may arise to be the leader or, on the contrary, to run away).
5. Answers quickly and not listening to the question. Example: - Sing, when you get up…. (it was assumed that the opponent would agree "what do you do first?") - Usually at eight (early child's answer). There may be more abstract and irrelevant answers.
6. Dislikes instructions, has difficulty following them.
7. Difficulty following task or role in play.
8. Throws one lesson and easily switches to another (does not scatter toys, as it might seem, but forgets and gets distracted, switches).
9. Disturbed while playing.
10. Talkative, often hyper-communicative.
11. Interrupts, tries to defend his opinion.
12. He does not hear what he was told or how he was called (carried away by something so that he does not notice).
13. Confused (loses objects of labor, toys, things).
14. "I see a purpose, but I do not see obstacles". He is so physically active that he does not notice the fences.

Obviously, the described phenomena can be mistaken for stubbornness, disobedience and more. It is important to understand that the child does this (for example, ignores instructions) not because he does not want to, but because his neural processes proceed differently and do not allow him to react in the generally accepted view of the norm.

• Hyperactive children are characterized by the cyclical work of the brain. On average, he actively works for 5-15 minutes, then recovers within 3-7 minutes.
• The work of the auditory analyzer is also different. Children with ADHD find it difficult to recognize several similar sounds in a row and repeat them.
• There are also problems with coordination, which is reflected in the drawings (lines are uneven, disproportionate, primitive) and when playing sports.
• Speech is fast and confused or, on the contrary, slowed down, there is a delay in the development of speech and stuttering.

Causes of hyperactivity

Despite the fact that the beginning of the development of ADHD lies in organic disorders during the period of intrauterine development of the child, negative factors act from two sides (biological and social). Until 2 years of age, the biological factor predominates, later - the social one. Biological negative factors include:

• prematurity and prematurity;
• intrauterine infections;
• birth trauma (asphyxia);
• difficult pregnancy (threat of miscarriage, toxicosis in the 2nd and 3rd trimester);
• poisoning of any nature during pregnancy (including smoking, alcohol);
• anemia in a pregnant woman;
• pregnancy up to 20 years.

There is a theory of genetic predisposition to hyperactivity. During the experiment described by E.L. Grigorenko in his work "Features of the psychophysiological development of children with hyperactivity" found that this fact takes place.

Among social factors, the development of hyperreactivity is influenced by:

• household, emotional, cognitive and sensory (failure to meet the actual needs of the child), that is, inadequate care, neglect, parents' failure to fulfill their duties;
• ill-being of addiction (, drug addiction,).

In a separate theory, the role of nutrition for the mother and then the child is singled out. According to this concept, the development of hyperactivity is facilitated by "artificial" nutrition, that is, semi-finished products, additives, an abundance of lead.

Features of hyperactivity and its differences from similar phenomena

It is noted that in boys from 7 to 12 years old, hyperactivity occurs 2-3 times more often than in girls of the same age. This is due to the greater weakness of the central nervous system (central nervous system) during the period of gestation by the mother of the fetus in boys to negative factors and the greater capacity of the female brain for compensatory functions (substitution, achievement of the necessary behavior with the help of other systems and brain processes).

Is an active preschooler (schoolchild) always hyperactive? No, not always. It is important to be able to distinguish hyperactivity not only from serious pathologies, but also to differentiate from, (pronounced individual properties of temperament, for example, overactiveness), natural mobility for preschool children. The following factors can cause ADHD-like behavior:

• death of a family member;
• other serious deformities in the family cycle;
• lack of motivation and interest in any activity;
• transition to a new educational institution (school, kindergarten);
• exactingness of parents and other stress.

Stress can cause impulsivity and irritability, and decreased attention. Please remember yourself after many hours of a busy day at work. Everyone is able to turn into a hyperactive child for a while: “I don't see anything, I don't hear anything, I don't want anything. It needs to be finalized. Now I’ll just have a cup of tea. Oh, what an interesting article in the newspaper (internet). Need to read. "

Reduced performance against the background of excessive (nervous) fuss and whims is a common phenomenon, isn't it? If not, then you are definitely a happy person! Nevertheless, no one is immune from this. You cannot think that the child has no problems. He has a sea of ​​them: he "fights" and gets to know the world and himself.

That is why the child's behavior is monitored for at least six months (the first paragraph of this article). During this time, hyperactivity can be distinguished from:

• asthenic syndrome;
• tiredness;

More details on how to distinguish hyperactivity from other phenomena are described in the book by M.S. Staroverova "Psychological and pedagogical support of children with emotional-volitional disorders: practical materials for psychologists and parents." Differentiation there is given according to the principle "by contradiction." Methods for identifying other behavioral phenomena are given, the coincidences of several points from the named features of behavior are taken into account (according to the type of material from the first part of the material of this article). If you are interested in the information, then the book can be found on the Internet.

Thus, hyperactivity is manifested by inattention, excessive mobility (including in speech), impulsivity (low self-control), problems in body movement and fine motor skills. It is difficult for such kids to get along with other people. They are obsessive, disorganized. Why they often become, they may be rejected by the company. Therefore, it is necessary to help them enter society.

Solutions

To determine the course of action regarding the correction of the child's behavior, it is important to remember the possible causes and find specific ones for the individual case. That is, it is not the child who needs to be changed, but his micro- (family) and macroenvironment (kindergarten, society), the climate around him (the social situation of development).

First of all, you need to find allies. They mean referring to:

• staff psychologist;
• teacher (educator);
• the defectologist of the institution in which the child is engaged.

Only together can we ensure work on the macro- and microsociety. A child with hyperactivity needs complex psychological, medical and pedagogical (social) support. Many educational institutions are currently functioning). If there is such an opportunity, it is better to go there right away.

It is important to be active in improving the family. Here are some general guidelines for parents on how to interact with a hyperactive child.

1. Be consistent, firm and real in your demands, rewards and sanctions (phrases like “I don’t know what I’ll do to you” or “I’ll kill you” are categorically inappropriate).
2. Remember that your child is special, not harmful (he does not want to "spoil" you).
3. Control the actions of the child, do them together.
4. Try to avoid rude and unambiguous answers (prohibitions), reasonably explain to the child why you are upset by his actions or why you should not behave this way.
5. Focus on mutual understanding and trust.
6. Be adequate (do not indulge, but do not demand the impossible).
7. Place the child towards you, surprise, attract his attention (unexpected joke, copying his behavior).
8. Be patient (you need to get used to the idea that you need to repeat your requests often, forget the phrases “how much you can repeat” and “I will not repeat to you anymore.” You will, but in a calm and even tone, and until you are heard ).
9. Arouse the child's interest, reinforce the words with actions, pictures, gestures, clarity ("Let's collect toys at speed, whoever wins, he will receive a token on his board. Look how beautiful he is!").
10. Always listen to and respond to your child.

It is also important to monitor the relationship with the spouse, set a personal example for the child in behavior (screaming can only teach screaming).

It is recommended to make a daily routine. What is important, it should be common for all family members, and not just for the child. Avoid overwork, overload, noisy places, create a workplace for the child with a minimum of external stimuli.

• A system of rewards and punishments plays an important role in working with a hyperactive child. It must be there.
• But it is categorically impossible to use physical or morally offensive punishments and monetary rewards.
• The introduction of points, the fulfillment of desires is permissible. Be generous with praise.
• However, at the same time, it should be borne in mind that hyperactive children do not respond well to beliefs.
• If there is a need for punishment, then it is better to deprive the child of sweets, entertainment, put in a corner. But! Beforehand, clearly say: “I ask you ... if you don’t do it, then I will have to pick up your phone for a day”.

Draw up a “contract” for the separation of duties. For the formation of self-control, the child must have exclusively his own responsibilities at home. It is important to take into account the child's age, developmental characteristics and personal preferences. Everything should be done in cooperation. Help, but don't do the work for him. Simple one-piece tasks should be given. Better a few small ones, but in turn.

Use excess activity with benefit. Find out what abilities your child has and what is interesting to him. For example, you can go swimming.

Please do not confuse control over a child's actions with total control over his life. Let him gain experience, make mistakes, make mistakes: be late, get deuces, lose friends (but, of course, return with your prompting).

Attention games

In order to develop the attention of a hyperactive child, you can use games (depending on age):

1. Ask the kid to repeat your movements.
2. Older children can be given a task with finding a specific letter (number) in the text. It is recommended to add an element of the competition, games. For example, if you lose, cough up.
3. Schoolchildren are encouraged to be given an assignment for the location of numbers, for example, in ascending order. Or give a completed field and ask to connect the numbers according to a certain criterion.
4. Composing words from words, that is, searching in one another, for example, "scooter" - "skat". Suitable for adult children.

Remember to keep your child's age in mind. The task should be interesting and understandable.

Finding differences in pictures or indoors, games on the speed of reactions, "snowball", "Broken phone", "Clap is a word" (a child claps when he hears a previously agreed category among the words spoken by an adult, for example, "plants") will also help in correcting hyperactivity. Thus, we again came to the same conclusion - work with your child.

Instead of an epilogue, or conclusions

A hyperactive child is hard to miss. The name of the phenomenon speaks for itself. They may be mistakenly called "hooligans", "non-rumors", "lazy", etc. In fact, they live in their own norm. They are not aware of other behaviors. Their whole essence is divided into three categories:

• inattention (98-100% of children with ADHD);
• excessive activity (70%);
• impulsivity (63-68%).

So, a child with ADHD is normal, but he sees the world from the perspective of his norm. You need to learn to understand it. To put it simply, it is strictly forbidden to scold a child, use punishments or phrases like “why can't you behave like all normal children” (by the way, such remarks should be avoided in any case when raising a child). This can only be achieved:

• lowering;
• growth and isolation;
• loss of his own authority in his eyes;
• deterioration of relationships.

Briefly, all the recommendations for interacting with a hyperactive child can be described in one word - communicate. Be with your child, tell him about the world, be interested in his state and feelings. Talk about his strengths and weaknesses. Help develop the former and learn to smooth out the latter. The basic principle of cooperation with a hyperactive child: reinforce desired behavior and increase praise, ignore unwanted actions.

Who knows, maybe you have a new famous comedian, rock star or rapper growing up. Yes, Avril Lavigne, Justin Timberlake, Howie Mandel, Ozzy Osbourne, Channing Tatum, Jim Carrey and many other genius and famous personalities were once just children with hyperactivity. There is even a scientific opinion that hyperactivity is a harbinger of genius. Of course, if you learn to manage the situation in your favor.

I hope this article was helpful to you. Psychological comfort for you and your family! Read about ADHD in adults.

Hyperactive child: what should mom do?

If a baby cries a month at a doctor's appointment, screams and blushes when trying to examine him, shudders, hiccups, and so on, then this is not surprising. He is scared, he may be hungry, the situation is unpleasant for him, the bright light, he instinctively strains, clutching his arms and legs, looking for protection. And the doctor who immediately prescribes medicines for your child cannot be considered a good doctor.

Now, when Sasha is almost 2 years old, I perfectly understand that much of what happens to the development and behavior of a child depends on his temperament and emotionality. And if there are no good reasons, then it is not worth looking for hyperexcitability where it does not exist. What should mom do? A practicing psychologist Larisa Surkova will tell the readers of the "Children of Mail.Ru" project about this.

Our youngest has a diagnosis of hyperactivity (and from good inpatient neurologists), but there are no problems with behavior, neither the teachers in the kindergarten, nor now the teacher at the school have presented any complaints. So you can educate the hyperactive too!

Let's talk about what parents usually come to a psychologist with:

With the fact that a child under 4 years old does not sit still;
does not want to play alone;
showing protest, constantly screaming or falling in hysterics on the floor;
sleeps poorly, wakes up often;
too active, in the understanding of mom.

Of course, this is the classic "woe from the mind." Mothers read a lot of books, magazines, often compare their children with other "ideal babies" who were put near a box of toys, and they sit there for two hours. I will not tell you that you do not need to compare children, that your baby is special, and develops according to its own scenario, I will just offer you m ini-test, the answers to which will be "yes" or "no":

1 ... Is your child under 5 years old?

2. Can your child do one thing that interests him for 5-10 minutes (for example, play or watch a cartoon)?

3. Does your baby sleep more than 3 hours in a row during the night's sleep?

4. Can your child sit in your arms or sit on your own?

5. Is your child able to eat comfortably while in a chair or on his arms?

If at least 4 out of 5 answers are "yes" - you just have an active baby, and everything that you attribute to him is unlikely to be related to the diagnosis "" (ADHD).

We have already learned that all children are different, but we are still looking for reasons why they do not sleep well, regurgitate a lot, constantly move their arms and legs, and cannot spend more than 2 minutes in one lesson. Before turning to even seemingly completely harmless drugs that improve sleep and pacify character, let's think about the fact that there are just children for whom all this is typical until a certain age, and there are very emotional children who have all these signs. in a square. In addition to boundless love and care, both need a regime, well, and a few more techniques in upbringing.

Traditions and rituals

Children quickly get used to traditions, daily actions and rituals. This gives a feeling of stability and comfort. Therefore, compliance with the regime is so important. There is also at the same time, before going to bed, turn off the overhead light, turn on the night light, read books or tell stories, have dinner with your family in a relaxed atmosphere, when everyone is eating (ideally), and not just the baby, but the mother is still busy in the kitchen or dad looks at the phone with one eye. This promotes correct eating behavior, which can also be upset in active babies. Any traditions that you come up with and follow regularly will be beneficial.

Dosed impressions

The appearance in the child's life of a large number of innovations, be it frequent trips, strangers, a bag of new toys that cause a storm of emotions that are difficult to cope with, it is better to dose. We practice the following schedule: 1 day - 1 new impression, we stretch out several gifts for weeks so that the kid appreciates each toy.

As for the development of perseverance, then the child, no matter what he does, should be given the opportunity to dig deeper into it himself, even if he does everything wrong, be it food, some activity, an attempt to dress. It's one thing to show how to do it correctly, another thing is to let the child play alone if he is carried away. We rest while the baby learns the world. And everything that we show him, he will remember and then reproduce himself. For a child, a day saturated with positive emotions and educational activities, in compliance with the regime and traditions, will be a good basis for development.

Immediately I want to draw your attention to the fact that a competent neurologist, psychologist or psychiatrist will not diagnose ADHD child up to 5-6 years old. It is always wild to see this record in the medical records of children in one and a half to two years. If your child is already 5 years old, you see that he cannot engage in one type of activity longer than the time allowed for his age (at 5 years old it is 15-20 minutes for one type of activity. For example, draws calmly for 15 minutes), falls asleep hard, fidgets, sitting in one place, the baby's mood changes easily or abruptly - start with a visit to a neurologist. The doctor will conduct the necessary tests, prescribe an EEG and, based on the results, may prescribe therapy.

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