How To Reduce Hyperactivity In Children
In the case of most children, the only time that they are still is when they are asleep. They look like an angels! A child wants to explore – so he touches, pulls, grabs and puts everything into his mouth (to see what it tastes like).
It is as he manipulates things, that he learns each day from and in his environment. He does not as yet have impulse control- so even when you say “Don’t touch!”- he’ll be touching anyway. It will take several months before he learns to control his impulses.
Your toddler will continue to see, to touch and taste; it is up to you as parents to set limits for his safety and for your peace of mind.
Think and stay ahead of your child:
To protect your child and your home from his fidgety hands, keep every item that is not safe out of his reach. Stash breakables out of his sight. If he likes to upturn a cup or drop it on the floor to see what happens, hand it to him for a sips, then take it back in between. If he has banged long enough on the pan, take it away and give him a piece of paper to tear.
Let him touch some things:
When he reaches for some things he’s not allowed to touch, supply a substitute. When he goes for the freshly folded stack of clothes on the bed, move it out of reach but give him a handkerchief to play with. When he makes a grab for the T.V remote, offer him a toy cell phone with buttons that has no batteries.
Supervise touching:
- If he shows an eagerness to touch the toothpaste, teach him how to squeeze it neatly and let him dole out toothpaste for the whole family.
- If he wants to touch the guitar, get him a toy guitar and show him how to put his hands on the fret board.
- If he wants to push the buttons in the lift, pick him up and let him push the button for your floor.
Set limits:
It is not possible to put away the bulky things in the house. It is important to teach your child that certain things in your house and elsewhere are simply off limits. It will take continuous repetition of the phrase “don’t touch” before this fact registers with your toddler and before he gains impulse control. So when he reaches for the decoration piece on your host’s coffee table, he will withdraw his hand half-way through your “ don’t__”.
Sweep Your house and floor regularly for any dangerous objects and get rid of them or put them safely out of reach of your child: things like small buttons, pins and chemical cleaning agents. You can’t be too careful.
Keep cool:
It is easy to get a little too nervous—but if you are calm, your child will also respond well. Keep saying “don’t touch” when he shouldn’t, redirect his attention to other things.
The anxious moments come when your toddler puts objects in his mouth. Just tell him “ not in the mouth”. He is exploring his environment with his mouth. Not to worry- he’ll be tapping other sensory sources, then his need for oral gratification will cease. If he doesn’t give you the unsafe object, take it away yourself. He will soon learn what is ok to put in his mouth and what is not.
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