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Calming Tips for Hyperactive Children
Jeannine Virtue
Parents of hyperactive children know the "Would you please just
settle down?!" phrase well, and likely use it on a regular basis.
There are a number of tips to help parents settle their
hyperactive child down. These quick tips and relaxation
techniques take the same amount of time as yelling and scolding
but produce incredibly different results in hyperactive children.
Quick Calming Tips:
Try quick tips to calm a hyperactive child down during temper
outbursts or unusually rowdy days. These calming tips are not
novel to adults by any stretch. How many times have you heard
"Take a deep breath and count to 10" or "Calgon, take me away."
What works for big people works for little people as well._ Deep
breathing is one of the simplest ways to calm the body. Teach
your children to take deep breaths (in through the nose, out
through the mouth) when they begin to feel frustrated and out of
control. Parents, you do this too!
_ Draw a warm salt bath or bubble bath to wash away the
hyperactive child's stresses of the day.
_ Take your hyperactive child for a walk or send them around the
block on their own if they are old enough. Not only does walking
burn off excess energy, the repetitive thump, thump, thump of
feet hitting pavement brings the mind back into focus.
_ Give your hyperactive child a mini-massage. Touch is very
important to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder children.
Massaging their temples, giving a shoulder rub or lightly running
your fingers through their hair can calm children quickly.
_ Put together a "Boredom Box" that provides creative outlets for
your hyperactive child. Fill this box or plastic storage bin with
paint sets, coloring books, crossword puzzles, modeling clay,
jewelry making kits and other artistic areas of interest.
Hyperactive children bore easily and their fast spinning minds
need extra stimulation. In the absence of nothing better to do,
hyperactive children will lean on their own devises and you don't
want them doing that. Better that they draw than set the cat on
fire...
The quick-fix calming techniques work to sooth the hyperactive
child after they already became too stressed or active. There are
also techniques that parents can teach their hyperactive children
to help them get the "stuff" out before it builds up and
explodes.
Create a calming home environment:
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder children have difficulty
remaining calm in a hectic environment. Clearing the clutter and
taking a "less is more" approach to decorating can reduce the
sensory overload on Attention Deficit and hyperactive children.
The Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder child's bedroom
especially should be free of clutter. Use plastic bins to
organize and store all those precious little plastic treasures
(that we adults commonly refer to as "junk") and small toys. Open
the curtains to provide natural lighting. Keep posters and wall
hangings to a minimum. Paint the child's bedroom in calming muted
colors instead of bright primary colors.
If you play music in the house, opt for soft "elevator music" or
classical music instead of rock. Try to avoid loud clatters and
noises when your Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder child
is at home.
Follow a Routine:
All children thrive in homes that provide routines, consistency
and structure. Attention Deficit and hyperactive children
especially need structure and schedules to feel secure in their
surroundings. For these children, a more "military" approach to
routines works better. Waking up, eating meals, doing homework,
and bed times should all occur at about the same time every day,
with few surprises to upset the Attention Deficit or hyperactive
child.
A Place to Relax:
If at all possible, find a space in the house to designate as a
relaxation space. It does not have to be a large space but it
does need to be away from high activity areas. This little corner
(or even a portion of a walk-in closet) can have a beanbag chair
and a few books, coloring books or other quiet time activities.
Encourage your child to go to this space when they become angry
or out of control, but never make this a place of punishment.
This special spot in the house is a positive place where they can
go to settle down, sort things out or just hang out when they
need to be alone.
Journaling:
For the child who is old enough to write, journaling is an
excellent way to untangle frazzled minds and get things off their
chest. This technique allows hyperactive children to spill their
internal stresses outside themselves and onto paper.
Develop a daily habit of having your child write a page or two,
depending on their age, about anything that comes to mind. They
can write "I hate school, the dog just drooled, the baby's crying
is driving me crazy..." - whatever comes to mind. Eventually,
they will get to the guts of what is going on inside them. Then
rumple or tear the paper up and throw it away.
These private internal thoughts are not for you or anyone else to
read, ever. Please respect their privacy and let them know they
can write anything down without fear of reprimand.
Taking a mini-vacation with Guided Imagery:
Guided imagery is a powerful relaxation tool for hyperactive
children that pulls their focus to positive thoughts, all the
while encouraging creativity in your child. You can check out
books on this technique at your local library if you want further
information on the subject.
Last, but certainly not least, diet:
Some parents find that reducing or eliminating sugar from the
diet goes a long way in calming the hyperactive child. If your
child is a finicky eater, you will need to supplement the diet to
make sure your Attention Deficit or hyperactive child has the
fuels needed for his body to function well.
Starting the day out with a healthy breakfast balanced with
proteins, fats and carbs is important. An egg sandwich, peanut
butter toast and fresh fruit, protein shakes and fresh fruit
smoothies are great ways to start the day for Attention Deficit
and hyperactive children.
Sugar cereals are quick and convenient but should not be used as
a breakfast mainstay. Fruit juices are high in calories and sugar
and not recommended for children, especially those with Attention
Deficit or hyperactivity. Instead of juice or sodas, get in the
habit of offering plain old H2O. With plenty of bottled waters
that offer fruit flavors and vitamin enhancements, getting your
children hydrated is easier now than ever before.
bio: Jeannine Virtue is a freelance journalist and mother of an
Attention Deficit son. Visit the Attention Deficit Disorder Help
Center at
http://www.add-adhd-help-center.com
for information about treating Attention Deficit Disorder without the
use of Ritalin or other ADHD medications.
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