Too Fast, Too Curious: How to Handle a Hyperactive Toddler

Photo by Josh Liba from flickr creative commons

“He can’t stay put in one place,” sighs Maielle Paterno as she watches her four-year-old Chico run around the house. “He seems to be fueled with boundless energy,” she says. “The only thing that can quiet him down for a while are his Disney CarsTM toys, or when he’s already exhausted!” Otherwise, Chico would jump from one interest to another without really locking on to anything.


Defining hyperactivity
Toddlers are endowed with a full bar of energy, while preschoolers are typically active and adventurous, says Francis Dimalanta, M.D., developmental pediatrician at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City. And because they have lots of energy to burn, they are always on the go.

Being hyperactive is common among kids between 2 and 6, adds Owen Villar, an occupational therapist who runs Kids Can Do Special Education School in Marikina City. Parents need not worry about hyperactivity disorder at this stage. Children under 5, says Dr. Dimalanta, have rarely been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). “A preschooler may be at risk for ADHD if he is exceptionally hyperactive, inattentive, and impulsive most of the time, as compared to other kids his age,” adds Dr. Dimalanta.

“Hyperactivity is defined as an inability to sit for long periods of time, especially when the task requires the child to sit down,” says Villar. Roaming the room without purpose, restlessness, fidgeting, climbing or running inappropriately, talking excessively, and shifting his attention from one activity to another within a few minutes are common signs of hyperactivity, Villar says.

“If these actions already interfere with a child’s ability to perform in school, in public places, and at home—whether at work or at play—then this warrants a formal diagnosis by a developmental pediatrician,” says Villar, as this may not simply be a “burst of energy.”

Observe your child and record his daily behavior. If he already goes to school, sit down with his teacher and other people who work and interact with him regularly.

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Calming him down

If your child is just naturally hyperactive, what’s a tired parent to do? Our experts help you understand his kinks and quirks, and suggest ways to restore a sense of order and calm at home.  

1. Keep him busy. Find as many outlets as possible for his energy upsurge. Engage your little tyke in purposeful activities like sports, dance, or rhythm activities, Villar suggests. Paint, draw, or color together. Hand him a pair of tambourines, or let him pound on beat boxes with all his might. Go out and ride a bike or march off to the park.


2. Draft a game plan. Set a stable and regular routine. Consistency is important to all kids, even more so to a hyperactive child. Villar suggests, “Make visual schedules to organize your child’s day, and see to it that he follows it as closely as possible.” Persistence is the key, says Villar. Help your child stick to a schedule; it won’t be easy but it’s worth the effort.


3. Give him some room. Pick a quiet space for silent reading time or alone time, where your tyke can literally stay still, says Villar. Use carpet or matted floors instead of hard wood. A comfy beanbag would be ideal, so that he could sit back and relax. Have an art supplies tray ready for when he wants to do some quiet creative work.  
      

4. Set realistic expectations. Accept it: He can’t sit or stand still for a long time. So why bring him to a place where he can’t run around or touch things? Bringing him to the museum or the kitchenware section of a department store will be sheer torture for him and you, too. If he’s not interested, he wouldn’t wait patiently in one corner.


5. De-stress Yoga for kids and Tai Chi exercises should be on your list of “new things to try.” These exercises will teach him how to focus and calm down. Give him exercise breaks and free movement activities throughout the day.  

A warm bath and a wind-down routine before tucking him in at night is a good way to end the day. Ditch TV viewing or video games at least one hour before bedtime. These will only stir him more and wake his senses rather than calm him down.

 

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6. Be specific Instead of saying “no running” or “don’t do that,” tell your child to “ walk slowly,” Villar suggests. Use simple and direct words, instead of long, incomprehensible sentences. Use praises, reminders, reinforcements, and rewards for good behavior, he adds. Remember, his mind is in fast-forward mode most of the time, so everything you say flies by in a jiffy.


7. Take five. The hyperactive child needs to know two things: hurting others is unacceptable and disagreeable behavior results in consequences. “Your child needs to know that hitting and biting, for example, are not acceptable,” Villar says. Be consistent in how you deal with misbehaviors; consequences must be realistic and age-appropriate. You can’t expect a positive result when you send a hyperactive four-year-old in a corner for an hour. Try a one-minute time-out per age—that means four minutes for a four-year-old, and so on.


8. Plan a healthy diet. He needs less of those processed junk food and high-carbohydrate snacks and more protein-rich food. Whole grain sandwiches with slices of lean meat and no-sugar dairy are ideal as these keep high-wired energy at bay, says Dr. Dimalanta.


9. Calm down, too. Remember, your overactive tyke may not be able to control himself or some of his actions. Model good behavior and hold back your own angry responses. Yelling or angry words can set off your child’s negative reaction and behavior even more.   


SOURCES:
•    Francis Dimalanta, M.D., developmental pediatrician, St. Luke’s Medical Center, Quezon City; (02) 726-2578
•    Owen Villar, occupational therapist, Kids Can Do Special Education School, San Roque, Marikina City; (02) 682-2656