Child Hyperactivity is a term used to describe the behavior of children who demonstrate an unusually high level of motor activity. Approximately 4 to 5% of American children are considered hyperactive.
Behaviors of hyperactive children include not sitting still, inability to focus on an activity, and inability to follow simple directions. Hyperactive children may blurt out answers inappropriately and annoy classmates by their disruptive behavior; therefore affecting their social relationships with peers.
The child’s pediatrician/mental health professional can diagnose hyperactivity and work with the school and parents to develop a behavioral plan which includes interventions to assist the hyperactive child to function at school/home successfully by targeting specific behaviors and generating developmentally appropriate strategies to seek solutions to the problematic behaviors.
At home, parents can provide a very structured environment for the school week. For example, hyperactive children perform much more efficiently when there is a schedule in place and there is a specific time for each activity, such as a time for homework, dinner, TV or computer time, bath, bedtime, etc. The child knows what to expect and when. Scheduling provides consistency in the child’s day and results in less anxiety for the child and parent.
Other techniques that may be helpful include helping the child to organize his work. Color coding folders for each subject area is helpful for hyperactive children to remember where their work is located. Offering reinforcers and rewards for tasks completed including praise is a positive method to help the child to complete the assigned task.
In the event that the behavioral strategies do not produce sufficient results to allow the child to function successfully in the environment, the medical professional can prescribe medication to alleviate/reduce the symptoms.
The behaviors of hyperactive children are very challenging for both parents and teachers; therefore, it is essential that both work together to formulate the most appropriate and effective methods to target the inappropriate behaviors to insure that the child has a productive school experience.