The overactive child

Now that the fall school semester has gotten underway, my phone has begun ringing with predictable, perennial issues. Nearly every fall, teachers and parents begin calling with concerns about "overactive" children.

I'm always amazed at the surprise in the voice of teachers and parents when they begin to notice that their new young students don't like to sit still. Why would they want to sit still? Very few children enjoy being confined and, frankly, the same is true for most adults. It is unnatural for children to want to sit for several hours each day in directed activity. The natural thing is to want to play, run, talk, and interact with each other.

I venture to guess that many adults would find it difficult to sit through a grade school classroom for even one full day without getting fidgety. Most of us would get bored with the coloring, activities, and other tasks that are not matched for our age group. How much more so is that going to be true with children who have few social and coping skills? The developmental range of children ages 4-8 is very broad. For example, not all five-year-olds are socially, cognitively, physically, and emotionally at the same level of development.

I understand, of course, that a teacher's classroom has to have some sense of order, but what is really abnormal here is that we actually seem to expect children to sit still and be compliant when they are young. I find that a bit ironic. Oddly, I don't get any calls from educators and parents asking me why their children are so compliant.

Many children are simply not ready for the school setting. Age 4 or 5 is simply too early for some children. Even some first- and second-grade children often have difficulty adjusting to the structure of school. There is no need to rush children into academic settings, especially when they are 2-4 years of age. As I've said many times before in previous articles, a fertile academic environment at home can often do the very same thing that preschool does for children without the disadvantages (not to mention expense) associated with preschool.

A child's activity level is also directly related to his or her diet, sleep patterns, and level of exercise. Junk food, caffeine, sugar, and even white bread have been shown to affect a child's activity level. Children who spend hours in front of television or, even worse, in front of video games build up energy that then has no place to go. What children need is 9-10 hours of sleep each night, plenty of free play time each day, and meals heavy in vegetables and light on sugar and fat. Instead, many school children head off toward the school bus each morning with less than eight hours sleep, little exercise, and a breakfast that popped out of a toaster. We shouldn't be surprised if they are restless at school.

Some kids will always be active and their activity, while inconvenient, is not abnormal. It is a teacher and parent's job to work with that child's "over activity" just as you would work with a child who had difficulty reading or hearing. Too many of these children are diagnosed with ADHD and medicated for the convenience of the parent and/or teacher.

However, some children do respond very favorably to medication and, when prescribed by a physician and used in conjunction with therapy by a trained psychologist, the benefits can be seen in both behavior and academics. The decision to use medication should always be a last resort rather than a first choice.

Finally, consider why you want your child to be less active. Often times it is for our convenience rather than for the betterment of the child. When it is important, learn to use their activity and energy to your advantage. For example, I have often done math facts with children while bouncing a basketball. Each time the ball is passed a fact must be cited. Use your imagination. After all, you are the grownup.