Hyperactivity: 6 Mistakes Parents Make

We sometimes get used to saying that any restless or impulsive child is hyperactive, but this condition is actually a more serious problem. Therefore, before acting in these cases, the ideal is to make sure that it really is hyperactivity.

What is hyperactivity?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a mental condition that primarily affects children. People who suffer from this disorder have attention problems, are characterized by impulsiveness and almost never stand still.

Even though only approximately  5% of school-age children suffer from this condition, at least half of these children are undiagnosed. Thus, we say that children are hyperactive without medical confirmation or treatment. It can be said that this is the first mistake of parents.

Often some symptoms are confused, such as school performance or age-specific activity frequency, something experts call “normal hyperactivity”. There are also other cases where it is actually dyslexia or learning problems.

There is no doubt that having a hyperactive child is a difficult situation to deal with, especially if we are not sure that the child is suffering from this disorder. Anyway,  we can make some mistakes when facing this problem. Below we show you the most common mistakes.

6 Top Mistakes Parents of a Hyperactive Child Make

1. Belittling the existence of the disorder

Do not seek clinical help to treat the child’s symptoms. Parents usually justify this by saying that it is a behavioral issue that does not require medical attention.

This results in the advancement of the disease without proper treatment, which can lead to more serious problems. Such as, for example, the child is not able to successfully complete their academic training or see their social relationships impaired.

2. Deny the existence of the problem

Some parents try at all costs to defend their children’s actions, but they are actually defending their own actions. It’s impossible for parents not to realize that their child is hyperactive, so it’s worrisome to see them act as if the disorder doesn’t exist.

Not acknowledging that the child has a problem is as serious as punishing him for his behavior. This situation is why more than half of children with ADHD are undiagnosed.

3. Get carried away by the comments

It is common for parents to be afraid of their children’s bad behavior and, therefore, when they receive some criticism, they tend to react without asking. In these cases, it is common for parents to punish their children without at least talking first, running the risk of treating them unfairly.

In some cases, we tend to think that our kids are the reason for the mess, and we punish them without knowing that several kids actually participated in the mess. Therefore, it is important to listen to children and maintain an adequate level of communication.

4. Disinformation

Being uninformed about the development of the disorder, as well as avoiding sharing what we know with family members and teachers. These attitudes end up compromising the treatment of the disorder.

For example, if teachers are not aware that the child has this condition, they will not know how to treat it. Thus, they can jeopardize the child’s performance, even unintentionally. It also leaves the child vulnerable when he goes through situations of provocation by his peers.

5. Reprimand often

It is normal for a hyperactive child’s behavior to be difficult to control and accept, so scolding them is a custom. However, experts recommend avoiding criticism of children’s behavior, especially about the common characteristics of this treatment.

On the other hand, it is preferable to take the opportunity to praise and reward when the child is able to control his actions, showing a behavior that should be reinforced.

6. Prevent its normal development

Sometimes parents of hyperactive children avoid putting them into various activities, fearing that their behavior will get out of control. For example, parents fail to take the child to a birthday party or enroll him in a sport because they think he will be a problem.

However, it is important to know that even when the child has this disorder, they need to participate in activities that complement their normal development.

It is advisable to channel the child’s hyperactivity through physical exercises and activities that require concentration but do not require much of it.