Hyperactive child: what should parents do? Psychologist's advice. Hyperactive child at school: advice to parents

Hyperactivity is a condition in which a child cannot sit still for a minute. Symptoms "on the face": kids are mobile, restless, unable to concentrate on any one activity. Often such children offend other children, irritate and distract adults with their behavior and are constantly in a nervous, excited state.

Between the ages of three and seven, as a rule, there comes a peak of hyperexcitability. But also, this time is characterized significant changes in life: during this period, kids are brought to kindergarten, they begin to be taken to developmental studios and sections, and they are also prepared for entering school. The child needs to master huge amount skills and abilities, including the ability to communicate in a team, perceive and process information, perform simple tasks and requests. It is during these years that the hyperactive baby and his parents have the hardest time, and the abundance of information and the new responsibilities that have appeared only worsen the condition of the child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

How do you know if a child is hyperactive? how to cope with the surging problems and get through this difficult period with minimal losses?

Hyperactive child: causes

Before proceeding with the diagnosis and treatment of a hyperactive baby, it is worth finding out the causes of a neurological-behavioral disorder. This will allow you to start the process of treatment and correction more competently.

Possible causes of the problem:

hereditary factor. One of the most common causes of hyperactivity is a genetic predisposition.
Pathologies during pregnancy and childbirth(fetal hypoxia, threatened miscarriage, preeclampsia, difficult labor, C-section etc.).
Low birth weight and prematurity.
Infectious diseases transferred by the mother during pregnancy and by the child in the first weeks of life.
The impact of adverse intra-family relationships and stressful conditions.
Use during fetal development alcohol, tobacco products and certain medicines.
Also, it is not excluded impact of poor environmental conditions, shortages essential trace elements and malnutrition (sweets and fast food).

Attention! It is worth noting that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is more common in boys than in girls. What is associated with the larger weight of male newborns, which increases the risk of birth and intrauterine injuries.

Hyperactive child 3 years - 4 years: what to do

Often it is during this period that parents begin to actively turn to specialists for help. This is related to the fact that a three-year-old child goes to a kindergarten or development group for the first time, where signs of hyperexcitability begin to manifest themselves clearly, as well as problems with adaptation in the team become aggravated.

The occurrence of hyperactivity is also explained by the inability of the baby's nervous system to quickly cope with an increase in mental stress, new and incomprehensible requirements.

Signs of hyperactivity in the period from 3 to 4 years

Signs of hyperexcitability of a child of 3-4 years old include:

uncontrollability, lack of response to requests and orders;
chaotic movements, running without a goal;
delayed speech function;
inattention, forgetfulness;
the baby crawls on a chair, jumps up, spins;
increased anxiety, irascibility and hysteria;
bad, restless sleep.

Treatment and correction of hyperexcitability in children aged 3-4 years.

Mandatory sessions with a child psychologist and speech therapist. The work of specialists will reduce the feeling of anxiety and anxiety, develop speech, imaginative thinking, visual and auditory memory.
Not recommended for this age. competitive games. Better visit the pool or buy a bike for your baby.
Try to provide your child calm and friendly atmosphere in the house. A hyperactive baby needs to feel protected and loved.

Hyperactive child 5 years old - 6 years old: what to do

At the age of 5-6 years, a deterioration in the condition of a child with hyperexcitability may occur, since at this time preparatory classes begin in the older groups of a preschool institution. In addition, the period is characterized by active maturation of brain structures, which can cause excessive overwork of the baby.

Signs at 5 years and at 6 years

In addition to the typical signs of hyperactivity, a neurological-behavioral disorder at the age of 5-6 years is characterized by the appearance of:

Nervous tics. There may be involuntary twitches of the facial muscles, contractions of the muscles of the body, limbs and neck, blinking, coughing, shivering and shaking the head.
Excessive talkativeness. At the same time, the child tends to interrupt and not listen to the speech addressed to him.
Frequent mood swings. impulsivity and impatience.
A variety of complexes, phobias and persistent fears.

To improve the condition of a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, in addition to working with a psychologist and visiting a neurologist, a significant lifestyle correction will be required. This will help a 5-6 year old baby to quickly adapt to increasing loads:

Pay attention to sleep patterns. It is advisable to go to bed and get up at the same time. Before going to bed, do not overload the baby with information and reduce active games.
Eliminate fast food, sweets, pastries, sodas and sugary juices from your diet.
Include leisurely walks before bed in your daily routine.
Add some physical activity to your life. At this age, the child can already be enrolled in sports section. This will relieve tension and reduce aggression.

Hyperactive child 7 years old

As a rule, at the age of seven, preparation for school and education in the first grade begins. New requirements and challenges exacerbate problems hyperactive child. Hyperexcitability interferes with normal adaptation in the team and provokes conflicts with peers and teachers. Due to restlessness, impatience and easy
excitability, such a child is not able to calculate the consequences of his actions, which can lead to aggressiveness and antisocial actions.

Symptoms of Hyperactivity in a 7-Year-Old Child

At the age of seven, a hyperexcitable child is different:

The inability to complete the work begun to the end.
The inability to sit through the entire lesson.
withdrawal during class and increased attention to extraneous stimuli.
Mistakes in homework due to inattention and absent-mindedness.
The inability to reasonably organize their work.
The constant loss of things, school supplies and books.

Preparing for school if you have a hyperactive child, what to do, 7 years old

To facilitate the adaptation of the baby to school duties, it is necessary:

Make a strict, strictly implemented daily routine.
Try not to allow persistent rejection and aversion to school.
Find out exactly what problems interfere with the cognitive process (underdeveloped auditory memory, weak logic or imaginative thinking).
Build a positive attitude towards the learning process.
Prepare in advance for the upcoming workload at school.

If you have an anxious child, an aggressive child

One of the most common and problematic forms of behavioral disorders in a hyperactive child is child aggression. In order to effectively cope with this disorder, it is necessary first of all to determine the cause of the appearance of aggression.

Attention! Most often, with the help of aggression, tantrums and antisocial behavior, the child tries to draw the attention of others to himself. The lack of care, love and support causes a hyperexcitable baby to show negative emotions, anxiety and aggression.

To correct the aggressive behavior of the child, it is recommended to contact family psychologist, because often this problem applies to all family members. After all, only mutual understanding and close contact with the baby can improve the condition and behavior of the little aggressor.

Currently, more and more parents are looking for an answer to the question of what to do if doctors have diagnosed a "hyperactive child". Unfortunately, excessive activity prevents the baby from leading a normal life, so there is a need to give practical advice for adults who are faced with such a pathology in children.
Scientists separated hyperactivity from other pathologies and gave the definition of "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder" (ADHD). However, such a deviation in the psyche has not yet been fully investigated.

To distinguish a hyperactive child from a simple fidget, you need to pay attention to the following characteristics:

An active kid has a great cognitive interest and uses his restlessness to gain new knowledge. Unlike a hyperactively aggressive child who disregards the opinions of others, he listens to the comments of adults and gladly joins the game.
Fidgets rarely show strong emotions, in unfamiliar conditions they behave calmer.
The absence of a propensity for provocations of active kids helps them build conflict-free relationships with other children, which is beyond the control of hyperactive children.
Children without mental disorders have sound sleep, they are energetic, but obedient.

Such a disorder manifests itself at the age of two years. However, there are some signs of a hyperactive child that can be seen in the year. Often adults do not pay attention to this until the little one grows up. Then they begin to expect more independence from him. However, her baby is not able to show due to mental development disorders.

Boys are more likely to suffer from Attention Deficit Disorder. Their number reaches 22%, and the number of girls with ADHD is only 10%.

Why is the child hyperactive?

There are many reasons for this disorder. The most common of them are:

Infectious diseases transmitted by children at an early age.
Stress, hard physical labor of the mother during gestation.
Mother's use of drugs, alcohol.
Head injuries occurring during childbirth.
Severe or premature birth.
Poor or improper diet of crumbs.
The disease can be transmitted at the genetic level.
Conflicts within the family.
Authoritarian parenting style.

What kind of child can be called hyperactive?

Health professionals classify a child as hyperactive if they exhibit the following symptoms:

Enthusiasm for the case lasts no more than 10 minutes. With any distraction, his attention shifts.
The peanut is constantly agitated, inattentive. During classes or lessons, he cannot sit still, constantly moves, twitches.
His behavior is not aggravated by shyness. Shows disobedience even in unfamiliar places.
He asks a lot of questions, but does not need an answer to them. Sometimes he gives an answer without listening to the whole sentence. During games, it requires everyone to focus on his person.
The speech is accelerated, swallows the endings of words. Often jumps from one activity to another without finishing what he started.
Restless sleep is one of the signs of a hyperactive child. There are nightmares, urinary incontinence.
Constant conflicts with peers do not allow to make friends. He can’t play calmly, he interferes with the game of other guys. During lessons, he shouts from a place, interferes with his behavior.
Hyperactive children often do not learn the curriculum of the school course.
Deviations in the work of the brain when processing information. Performing tasks, often experiencing difficulties.
It seems that the child does not hear what adults say to him.
Distracted, loses personal belongings, school supplies, toys.
Clumsiness in the movements of a hyperactive child is often the cause of injury and damage to things.
Has problems with fine motor skills: has difficulty fastening buttons, tying shoelaces, calligraphy.
Does not respond to comments from adults, prohibitions, punishments.
Subject to frequent headaches, there are nervous tics.

Remember that only a doctor can diagnose ADHD. And only if the doctor found at least 8 symptoms of a hyperactive child. The diagnosis is based on the results of MRI of the brain, EEG, blood tests. With sufficiently developed mental capacity such children have problems with speech, fine motor skills, low cognitive interest. Mediocre learning abilities, weak motivation for learning activities do not allow our inattentive hyperactive children to get high level education.

If your child has been diagnosed with such a diagnosis, do not be afraid and give up. There is no need to hope that the problem will be solved by itself. hyperactive child really needs the help of parents and recommendations of specialists.

What should parents of a hyperactive child do?

To solve the problem, parents of hyperactive children should consider the following tips:

Take care of your daily routine. Do not forget about daily rituals: systematic reading of a bedtime story or morning work-out will extinguish excessive overexcitation of the crumbs. Try not to change regime moments. This will save him from evening tantrums, make his sleep calmer.
Weather in the house. Friendly and conflict-free relationships in the family will reduce destructive activity. Avoid noisy holidays, unexpected guests.
Sections. Sports activities direct the energy of the zipper in a positive direction. Control the systematic attendance of classes, this is important for a hyperactive child. Avoid competitive sports. It is better to choose aerobics, skiing, swimming. It has a beneficial effect on the development of thinking of a toddler playing chess. During chess games, both hemispheres work at the same time, which positively affects the development of mental abilities.
Release of energy. If the behavior of children does not interfere with others, there is no need to restrain them. Let them vent their emotions. After such “self-cleansing”, the child will become calmer.
Punishments. When there is a need for educational influences, try not to choose such punishments in which the little one will have to sit still for a long time. For him, this is an impossible task.
Golden mean. No need to put too much pressure on the fidget. Exaggerated demands, rigidity in raising a hyperactive child will only harm. But you should be wary of excessive care in relation to such a baby. Children feel the weakness of adults, they quickly learn to manipulate. Then the upbringing of overly active children becomes unmanageable.
Nutrition. Food for such children should be healthy. Exclude sweets, products with artificial additives, sausages, convenience foods. You can improve brain function by taking a complex of vitamins in the offseason. The daily menu should contain vegetables, fruits. Be sure to include foods that contain calcium, iron, and magnesium in your diet.
Extra impressions. Crowded places excite a hyperactive baby. Avoid joint visits to supermarkets, public transport.
A television. Limit your viewing of violent TV shows. However, a couple of good cartoons a day will help. Watching TV, the fidget trains perseverance.
promotion. Do not spare words of praise for too active children. It is important for them to realize that they are on the way to victory over negativism.

Treatment and correction of a hyperactive child

There are several practical advice for the treatment of a hyperactive child:

Massotherapy. The prescribed massage will help relieve muscle tension, soothe the baby, relax it.
Physiotherapy. Improves the supply of the cerebral cortex with blood electrophoresis with drugs.
Psychologist consultations. Play therapy will help to correct behavior and learn to restrain impulsive impulses. Classes with a psychologist or psychotherapist develop the baby's speech, improve fine motor skills hands of a hyperactive child. With systematic exercises, attention improves.
Therapeutic gymnastics, swimming pool. With their help, the nervous system is strengthened, and excess energy goes away.
Alekseev's technique, autogenic training, the Schulz model. These sets of exercises will be useful for relaxing the muscles, they will help him sleep peacefully. At first, such therapeutic work with a hyperactive child is carried out only under the supervision of a specialist.

Psychologists give the following advice to parents of a hyperactive child:

Treat the child's manifestations of hyperactivity not as shortcomings, but as features of his character.
Be prepared that such a baby will not hear your requests the first time, be patient and repeat them several times.
Don't yell at fidgets. Your excitement will have a bad effect on the little one, he will lose control of his emotions. It is better to hug the baby to you, gently stroke him, then ask him in a low voice what happened to him. Repeating phrases soothe, relax the fidget.
Music helps to set the baby in a calm positive way. Turn on classical music more often or enroll it in a music school.
Try not to give the livestock a lot of toys at once. Let the baby learn to concentrate his attention on a single object.
A hyperactive child should have their own cozy corner in which he will curb negative emotions and come to his senses. Suitable for this is your own room with neutral-colored walls. It should contain favorite things, toys that help him relieve excess nervousness.
Pay close attention to your child's behavior. At the first sign of growing aggression, switch his attention to another activity. Hysterical attacks are easier to stop at the initial stage.

How to calm a hyperactive child?

You can treat a hyperactive child at home with the help of:

Medicines. This method should be used in last turn. The doctor may prescribe herbal sedatives. Nootropic drugs have a beneficial effect on metabolic processes in the cerebral cortex, improve memory, attention of the baby. Don't wait quick results from sedatives for hyperactive children, the drugs will begin to work only after a few months.
Relaxing baths. Soothing baths can be used daily before bedtime. The water temperature should not be higher than 38. Add an extract from hop cones and needles to the water.
folk remedies. To relieve tension, decoctions of soothing herbs are used. They are taken half a cup twice a day. You can prepare a mixture to strengthen the nervous system from cranberries with aloe, twisted with a meat grinder, with the addition of honey. This delicious nutritional mixture is given for a six-month course three times a day.

Dr. Komarovsky about a hyperactive child

The famous Ukrainian pediatrician Evgeny Komarovsky believes that:

A hyperactive child can be considered a child who has problems communicating with friends at school or in kindergarten. If the team does not accept the little one, and the school curriculum is not absorbed, then we can talk about the disease.
In order for a hyperactive toddler to listen to your words, you must first attract his attention. When the baby is busy with something, he is unlikely to respond to the request of his parents.
You don't need to change your mind. If you forbid something, then this ban should be in effect constantly, and not from case to case.
Safety in a family with fidgets should come first. It is necessary to organize a living space for hyperactive children so that he cannot injure himself during the game. Demand composure and accuracy not only from the baby, but also from yourself.
No need to ask the zipper to perform difficult tasks. Try to divide this work into simple steps so you get best results. Use the action plan in pictures.
Praise should be given at every opportunity. Even if the little artist has not completely painted the picture, praise him for his accuracy and diligence.
You need to take care of your own rest. Whenever possible, parents should rest. You can use the help of relatives and ask them to take a walk with the baby. When raising hyperactive children, the calm and poise of his parents is very important.

Your special baby should have no doubts that his parents love him very much. Proper Behavior parents in raising a hyperactive child will solve this problem. Pay attention to the little one, follow the advice of experts.

School is the enemy of hyperactive children, because there you have to be careful and focused. Without concentration and the ability to complete what has been started, the performance of a hyperactive student will leave much to be desired.

Hyperactivity is a scourge elementary school students . Their leading activity changes from playing to learning, because of which the load on the brain increases many times over.

Systematicity, duration, repetition - everything without which it is difficult to imagine learning does not fit in with a hyperactive child. What should parents do in this case?

Signs of hyperactivity

How do you know if your child is hyperactive? Answer "yes" or "no" to 10 questions of our test:

Does the child constantly move his hands and feet?
Can't sit still for even a minute?
Is it hard to wait for your turn in the game?
Answers questions quickly without listening to the end?
Do you find it difficult to complete assigned tasks?
Do you find it hard to shift your attention from one activity to another?
Are his games or drawings often left unfinished?
Talks a lot, interferes with others, interferes in all conversations?
Doesn't know how to play himself, quietly and calmly?
Often makes impulsive actions without thinking about the consequences?

If you have 8-10 "yes" answers, your child is prone to hyperactive behavior.

And you are not alone. According to statistics, among children aged 5 to 11 years, more than 25% are hyperactive, and boys suffer twice as often as girls.

Psychologist Elena Frolova says: “There are several reasons why parents of boys more often complain about the hyperactivity of their children than girls. The brain of a male fetus is more vulnerable to various pathologies of pregnancy and childbirth. The psyche of girls has better developed compensatory functions, and they are also more emotional and obedient. For example, it is easier for a girl to throw a tantrum, and she is already getting a discharge, and in this situation, a boy starts talking a lot, going crazy and running around the ceiling.

What are the problems at school

Excited, inattentive, restless and noisy - such children attract the attention of the teacher, who needs to make sure that they sit quietly, complete tasks, and do not interfere with classmates.

These schoolchildren are constantly busy with their own affairs at the lesson, it is difficult to keep them in place, to force them to listen to the task and, moreover, to complete it to the end. They do not hear the teacher, often lose something, forget.

Hyperactive children need to constantly move, and this goes against school rules. Sitting at a desk for 4-6 lessons in a row for 35-40 minutes is an impossible task for them. 15, maximum 20 minutes - and the child loses the thread, his attention is scattered, a change of activity is necessary.

How to help a hyperactive child

Stock up on patience . The problems of hyperactive children are not solved overnight and by one person. This is a complex issue requiring attention and long work from parents, doctors, teachers and psychologists. Visit different specialists, ask for a few opinions, look for alternatives, gather experience.

forget the word "no" ". For a hyperactive child, there is nothing worse than the word "no". No, you can't, don't run, don't jump, don't walk, don't grab, don't shout - how much more does he have to listen to? Do not formulate orders - voice proposals. And connect the invention. Your new lifesaver phrases: "Let's walk like cats", "Let's listen for a minute to what the silence is telling us", "Let's try to negotiate with the pen." If the ban is vital, try to present it in a positive way, do not say “do not walk through the puddles”, suggest “get out on the asphalt”.

Find your scheme . In a family where, it is important to avoid extremes. There should be no permissiveness and indifference, but it is pointless to demand from such a child unquestioning obedience, compliance with the rules and intimidate with punitive sanctions. Categoricalness, reproaches, pulling back will not do him any good. Develop your tactics, scheme, strategy, look for it through trial and error.

Seek Zen. At school and at home, the child will benefit from the experience of mastering his emotions. Teach a little person self-control, show step by step how to smooth out surging feelings. best example- own, so restrain your violent affects, especially towards the child. Together learn to switch attention, change the direction of activity and thoughts, study breathing practices, go to martial arts.

Provide support . If you knew how much the words “I understand you” mean to a hyperactive child! He just needs adult support. He is already uncomfortable and restless inside himself, and here you are with your notations. Sincerely try to understand the child, support his attempts at self-control, praise for restraint and good behavior.

Hug. . Nobody needs hugs more than hyperactive kids. They may quiet down in your hands, break out or crawl on their knees, but they just need to feel physical contact with a loved one. Hug the child and gently stroke his back, as if reassuring. The more often you do this simple exercise, the better. Do you know how to massage? Great, proceed without hesitation, just remember, your goal is to relax the child.

Be brief. For a hyperactive child, tasks need to be clearly defined, in short sentences, without long wording. In homework, highlight the most important words bright felt-tip pens, it will be easier for a child to remember one word.

Follow the sequence . If you say “fill in your notebook, wash your hands and come to dinner”, it will be difficult for a hyperactive child to concentrate and keep attention on three tasks at once. So put the tasks in order. Done one, start the next.

Remember the daily routine . Yes, it is difficult for a hyperactive child to adhere to some kind of framework. But to understand that after lunch he will need to do his homework, and after the lessons - to collect a portfolio - is necessary. No need to get hung up on minutes, it is important to follow the sequence of actions. Warn him in advance that the child will have to: “We will now watch the cartoon and go to do our homework.” Keeping track of the deadlines is your task, do not shift it to the child. The calendar works great as an assistant, on which, in addition to the daily schedule, you can mark some goals and plans for the week, month, year.

Remove distractions . Is the child doing homework? Turn off the radio, TV, remove all distracting objects from the table. A hyperactive child needs to make superhuman efforts to concentrate. Help him with this - remove everything that can distract him. Even the color of walls, furniture, textiles, clothes, choose a soothing, non-irritating one.

Hyperactivity most often disappears by adolescence: signs of increased motor activity decrease, changes in the psyche are smoothed out.

It is important that by this moment the child comes with faith in himself, positive emotions and without the burden of an inferiority complex. And this is in your hands!

What to do if your family has a hyperactive child? What should parents do if their child is so restless and impetuous that it is difficult to control him? What if he cannot calmly react to everything that happens, play with peers? What if he is restless and it is not easy for him to transfer knowledge? How to choose the right strategy for raising a hyperactive child and what lies in his restlessness? Read about the behavior of a hyperactive child: recommendations for parents.

Hyperactivity and its symptoms

A hyperactive child faces many challenges

In the middle of the last century, physicians considered hyperactivity as a pathological condition caused by minor disorders of brain function. Subsequently, excessive motor activity began to be perceived as an independent disease, which was called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

“A hyperactive child faces problems with concentration, poor memory, and learning. It is difficult for his brain to process information. The child cannot maintain concentration for a long time, control all his actions. He is restless, inattentive and impulsive.

Symptoms of hyperactive behavior:

restlessness
bustle
anxiety
impulsiveness
emotional instability
tearfulness
non-compliance with the rules and norms of behavior
sleep problems
delayed and impaired speech development
and others.

Symptoms of ADHD can already be seen in a 2-3 year old baby. Most often, parents are in no hurry to consult a doctor, however, as soon as the child enters the first grade, he has difficulties with his studies, which appear due to hyperactivity.

For each of the symptoms described, it is imperative to respond and seek help from specialists who will give correct recommendations how to help a child with ADHD, how to learn how to calm him down, how to adapt him in society.

If signs of hyperactivity persist in a child for more than 6 months, then you need to consult a specialist - a psychologist, a neuropathologist.

Signs of hyperactivity include the following:

inattention, which is shown in:

frequent inability to pay attention to details (because of this, the child will make mistakes when doing schoolwork homework and other activities)
difficulty maintaining attention
inability to listen
inability to adhere to requirements and instructions (for example, completing lessons or other household chores in the workplace
Difficulty organizing homework and other work independently
avoiding engaging in tasks that require sustained mental effort
frequent loss of items (toys, school supplies, pencils, books, stationery)
mild distraction to extraneous stimuli
frequent forgetfulness in everyday situations.

hyperactivity, which manifests itself in:

restless movements of the hands and feet
twisting and turning while sitting on a chair
frequently getting up from one's seat in the classroom during a lesson or in other situations
frequent manifestation of aimless motor activity: running, twisting, trying to climb somewhere, moreover, when this is unacceptable
inability to calmly, quietly play or do something
in constant motion
talkativeness, noise.

impulsivity which is shown in:

answering questions without listening to them to the end and especially without thinking
difficulty waiting for your turn
frequent interference with others, pestering others (for example, he can calmly interfere in conversations or games).

If the described signs persist in a child for more than 6 months, then it is imperative to consult with a specialist - a psychologist, a neuropathologist.

Treatment at home and with a specialist

Only a doctor can choose the right course of treatment for your hyperactive child

If you notice symptoms and signs of ADHD in your child, you should consult with a neuropathologist. The doctor will conduct an examination and find out if any serious illness is the cause of the child's hyperactivity.

Diagnosis of ADHD carried out in 3 stages:

Collection of information. The doctor collects information about the child, finding out the features of the course of pregnancy and childbirth, the history of the child’s illnesses, and the features of education. The doctor asks the parents to characterize the child. Next, he gives a subjective assessment of the child's behavior based on certain diagnostic criteria.
Psychological examination. With the help of special techniques (tests), the specialist diagnoses the attention of the child.
Hardware inspection. ADHD is diagnosed using an electroencephalographic or magnetic resonance imaging study (which records electrical potentials in the brain and detects changes). The procedures are painless and safe.

The totality of the results obtained will determine the presence of ADHD and the need for special treatment.

Sometimes the child becomes so uncontrollable that the parents are ready to do anything to stop the disgrace and take a break from it. It is important to remember here that it is impossible to arbitrarily give the child sedatives: they can only be prescribed by a doctor after an examination. The selection of drugs that normalize sleep, relieve irritability, reduce anxiety is selected by the doctor strictly individually for each child.

"Advice. Remember that only a doctor can choose the right course of treatment for your hyperactive baby. When choosing home treatments, focus on those that will not harm the child. As a home treatment, it is best to choose a strategy of careful, calm, affectionate attitude towards the baby.

How to organize the life of a hyperactive child

Attentive and careful attitude to a hyperactive child will help to properly organize his life.

Prohibit correctly. When communicating with a hyperactive child, do not use denials, the negative particle “not”, the words “no” and “no”. It is better to reformulate the prohibitions, for example: “Do not walk on the lawn!” should be replaced with "Better play on the track". That is, forbidding something to the baby, immediately offer an alternative.
Set tasks clearly. Children with ADHD are distinguished by poorly developed logical and abstract thinking. Therefore, tasks must be clearly stated. When communicating with your child, use short, simple phrases, avoiding complex formulations.
Follow the sequence. It is better for hyperactive, inattentive children not to give several instructions at the same time, such as "get dressed and fold your clothes, wash your hands and sit down to dinner." It will be difficult for the child to immediately perceive all the information. Most likely, he will be distracted and forget to do everything that needs to be done. It is better to give instructions one after another, maintaining a logical sequence.
Keep track of time. It is difficult for hyperactive children to feel the time, so parents themselves must monitor how much time the baby spends on a particular task.
Get used to the daily routine. The daily routine is the basis of the normal life of a hyperactive child. The child must sleep enough time (at least 8-10 hours a day), eat, study (study), play, walk at the same time. Do not forget to praise the baby if he follows the rules.
Be positive. Rejoice in the success of the child, praise him, support him. The kid should feel that he is taken care of and helped to cope with difficulties. Smooth out conflicts.
Clearly define the criteria for good behavior. Permissiveness is not the best tactic of education. The child must understand what he can and cannot; how to behave beautifully, and how not.
Create comfortable conditions for the development of the child. The baby should have his own place in the house, where he can safely play and study. Do not distract your child from activities. Make sure he doesn't get overtired.
Create opportunities for spending excess energy. It is better for hyperactive children to have a hobby. Well, if it is a sport where the child can throw out excess energy. Walk outdoors more.

Foods containing dyes and preservatives should be excluded from the diet of a hyperactive child.

"Advice. Foods containing dyes and preservatives should be excluded from the diet of a hyperactive child. It is not recommended to consume carbonated drinks, chocolate, spicy and salty foods.

Folk methods of behavior correction

Sometimes the doctor may prescribe not only drug treatment, but also strengthen it folk methods, For example:

Soothing herbal infusions. Infusion from ticks: 2 tbsp. brew spoons of dry blackberry leaves with a liter of boiling water and give the child half a cup to drink twice a day.
Strengthening normalizing mixtures. For example: cranberries and aloe need to be twisted in a meat grinder and seasoned with honey. Give a teaspoon three times a day for six months. This mixture enhances concentration and perseverance.
Soothing herbal baths. Some herbs (chamomile, valerian, motherwort) and essential oils (fir, neroli) have a relaxing effect. Herbs need to be brewed, and then pour the infusion into the bath, and essential oil drip a couple of drops.

“A wonderful old sedative way is a glass of warm milk with honey. It is better to offer the child to drink it at night.

Choose individual ways to calm a hyperactive child

While the diagnosis has not yet been made, parents will need advice on how to behave with a hyperactive child:

If the child is overexcited, you need to change the situation: give him a drink of water and take him to another room.
If the baby is upset, the best medicine will be hugs from parents, gentle stroking on the head: physical contact is very important for hyperactive children.
Herbal baths before bed are an effective home remedy for hyperactive children. IN sedative collection for such a bath, hop cones and coniferous trees can enter. Consult your doctor when choosing this method of home therapy.
A favorite fairy tale, a book with colorful illustrations, massage, calm music - with the help of all this, the baby will be able to calm down and fall asleep faster.

It is not easy to recommend what exactly needs to be done with the baby's hyperactivity, because each case is individual and generated. different reasons. The main thing is to be loving and patient parents who will help the baby adapt to the world around him and cope with the difficulties that he faces.

Of course, any excited child whose energy is overflowing should not be classified as children with various disorders or diseases of the nervous system. If children are sometimes stubborn or do not obey, this is normal. Correspond to the norm and cases when a child sometimes "walks" in bed, although it's time to sleep, wakes up at dawn, is naughty or indulges in a store.

Background

In the middle of the 19th century, the German neuropsychiatrist Heinrich Hoffmann was the first to describe an overactive child and gave him the nickname Fidget Phil. Since the 60s of the 20th century, doctors began to single out such a condition as a pathological one and called it minimal brain dysfunction (minimal disorder of brain functions). Since the 80s of the twentieth century, the state of excessive motor activity (hyperactivity) began to be distinguished as an independent disease and brought into international classification diseases (ICD) under the name Attention Disorder (or Deficit) Syndrome with Hyperactivity (ADHD).

It is due to dysfunction central nervous system (CNS) of a child and manifests itself in the fact that it is difficult for the baby to concentrate and hold attention, he has problems with learning and memory.

This is primarily due to the fact that it is difficult for the brain of such a child to process external and internal information and stimuli. It should be noted that although outwardly the excessive mobility of the baby comes to the fore, the main defect in the structure of this disease is attention deficit: the little one cannot concentrate on anything for a long time.

Children suffering are distinguished by restlessness, inattention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. ADHD is serious social problem, since it occurs in a large number children (according to various studies, they suffer from 2.2 to 18% of babies) and greatly interferes with their social adaptation. Thus, it is known that children suffering from ADHD are at risk for the development of alcoholism and drug addiction in the future. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder occurs in boys 4-5 times more often than in girls.

Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

The first manifestations of ADHD can sometimes be observed already in the first year of life. Children with this disorder are hypersensitive to various stimuli (eg, artificial light, sounds, various manipulations of the mother related to caring for the baby, etc.), are distinguished by loud crying, sleep disturbances (hard to fall asleep, little sleep, excessively awake), may lag behind in motor development a little (begin to roll over, crawl, walk on 1-2 months later than the rest), as well as in speech - they are inert, passive, not very emotional.

In the first years of a child's life, the main concern of parents is the excessive number of movements of the baby, their randomness (motor anxiety). When observing such children, doctors notice a slight delay in their speech development, babies later begin to express themselves in phrases; also, such children have motor awkwardness (clumsiness), they later master complex movements (jumps, etc.).

The age of three is special for a child. On the one hand, attention and memory are actively developing during this period. On the other hand, the first, three-year crisis is observed. The main content of this period is negativism, stubbornness and obstinacy. The child actively defends the boundaries of influence on himself as a person, his "I". Often at 3-4 years old, before the child enters kindergarten, parents do not consider his behavior abnormal and do not go to the doctor. Therefore, when the baby goes to the kindergarten and the teachers begin to complain about uncontrollability, disinhibition, the inability of the child to sit during classes and fulfill the requirements, this becomes an unpleasant surprise for the parents. All these "unexpected" manifestations are explained by the inability of the central nervous system hyperactive child cope with the new demands placed on him against the background of increasing physical and mental stress.

The deterioration of the course of the disease occurs with the beginning of systematic education (at the age of 5-6 years), when classes begin in the senior and preparatory groups kindergarten. In addition, this age is critical for the maturation of brain structures, so excessive exercise can cause overwork. The emotional development of children suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, as a rule, is late, which is manifested by imbalance, irascibility, low self-esteem. These signs are often combined with tics, headaches, fears.

All of the aforementioned manifestations determine the low academic performance of children with ADHD at school, despite their fairly high intelligence. Such children are difficult to adapt in the team. Due to their impatience and slight excitability, they often come into conflict with peers and adults, which exacerbates the existing learning problems. It should be borne in mind that the child syndrome insufficient attention with hyperactivity not able to foresee the consequences of his behavior, does not recognize authorities, which can lead to antisocial acts. Especially often antisocial behavior is observed in such children in adolescence, when impulsiveness comes first, sometimes combined with aggressiveness.

Diagnosis of ADHD

First of all, parents who suspect such disorders in their children, no matter what age this happens, should consult a neurologist and examine the child, because sometimes other, more serious diseases are hidden under the guise of ADHD. It is better to contact a specialized neurological center or the department of pediatric neurology. It is advisable not to limit yourself to a consultation, but to undergo a comprehensive examination lasting 2-3 hours.

It is conditionally possible to distinguish three stages in the diagnosis of this disease.

First- subjective - includes a subjective assessment of the child's behavior based on generally accepted diagnostic criteria developed by the American Psychiatric Association (see Appendix). In addition, the doctor asks parents in detail about the peculiarities of the course of pregnancy and childbirth, about the diseases the child has suffered, about his behavior. A detailed family history is taken.

Second stage - objective, or psychological. By the number of mistakes made by the child when performing special tests, and by the time he spent on this, the parameters of the child's attentiveness are measured. It should be remembered that such studies can be carried out in children only starting from the age of five or six.

On third At the stage, an electroencephalographic study is carried out - with the help of electrodes superimposed on the head, the electrical potentials of the brain are recorded and the corresponding changes are detected. This is done to objectively assess the state of the child's brain. There are more recent studies using magnetic resonance imaging. These studies are harmless and painless. Based on the totality of the results obtained, a diagnosis is made.

Classification of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

There are three variants of the course of ADHD, depending on the predominant symptoms:

hyperactivity disorder without attention deficit;
attention deficit disorder without hyperactivity (more often observed in girls - they are quite calm, quiet, "hovering in the clouds");
a syndrome that combines attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (the most common variant).

In addition, there are simple and complicated forms of the disease. If the first is characterized only inattention and hyperactivity, then with the second, headaches, tics, stuttering, and sleep disturbances join these symptoms. Also attention deficit disorder can be both primary and secondary, that is, it can occur as a result of other diseases or as a consequence of birth injuries and infectious lesions of the central nervous system, for example, after suffering the flu.

Causes of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

At the heart of ADHD are functional immaturity or disruption of a specific system of the brain - the reticular formation, which provides coordination of learning and memory, processing of incoming information, and retention of attention. Failures in adequate processing of information lead to the fact that various visual, sound, emotional stimuli become redundant for the child, causing anxiety and irritation.

In addition, in ADHD, under the influence of the above unfavorable factors, the functioning of the frontal lobes responsible for intelligence, the subcortical nuclei of the brain and the nerve pathways connecting them are disrupted.

Genetic mechanisms also play an important role in the origin of ADHD. It is believed that the presence of this syndrome in a child is due to mutations of three genes that regulate the metabolism of dopamine, a specific substance of the nervous system involved in the transmission nerve impulses. Families of children with ADHD often have close relatives who had similar disorders in childhood. In such cases, the risk of developing ADHD is approximately 30%.

In approximately 60-70% of cases, adverse factors during pregnancy and childbirth play a leading role in the occurrence of ADHD. the number of pregnancy factors that are prognostically unfavorable for the development of ADHD: intrauterine hypoxia (lack of oxygen) of the fetus; threats of termination of pregnancy; smoking and malnutrition of the mother during pregnancy; stress during pregnancy.

Unfavorable factors in the course of labor are: prematurity (the birth of a baby weighing less than 2500 g), premature, transient or prolonged labor, stimulation of labor. Also, risk factors are the presence of lesions of the central nervous system of varying severity in newborns. Tension and frequent conflicts in the family, intolerance and excessive severity towards children also contribute to the development of this syndrome. Injuries cervical spine in a child, contrary to popular belief, are not the cause of this disease. It should always be borne in mind that several unfavorable circumstances, mutually influencing and complementing each other, are more likely to provoke the manifestation of ADHD in a baby. But the main risk factor is the child's predisposition to this disease: if it is not there, then ADHD cannot manifest itself.

Features of the treatment of ADHD

Treatment of ADHD should be comprehensive, that is, include both drug therapy and psychological correction. Ideally, the child should be observed by both a neurologist and a psychologist, feel the support of parents and their faith in a positive outcome of treatment. This support reinforces the skills that the child develops during the treatment process.

Psychological features hyperactive children are such that they are immune to reprimands and punishment, but are quick to respond to the slightest praise. Therefore, it is recommended to formulate instructions and directions for children with ADHD clearly, concisely, and clearly. Parents should not give them several tasks at the same time, it is better to give the same instructions, but separately. They should monitor the child's compliance with the daily routine (clearly regulate the time of eating, doing homework, sleep), provide the baby with the opportunity to expend excess energy in physical exercises, long walks, running.

To correct behavior, you can use the so-called operant conditioning, which consists in punishing or rewarding in response to the child's behavior. Together with the baby, it is necessary to develop a system of rewards and punishments for good and bad behavior, as well as place a set of rules of conduct in the kindergarten group and at home in a place convenient for the child, and then ask the child to pronounce these rules aloud. You should also not overwork the baby when performing tasks, as this may increase hyperactivity. It is necessary to exclude or limit the participation of easily excitable children in activities associated with congestion a large number of people.

The choice of partners for games is also important - it is desirable that the child's friends be balanced and calm. Punishments must follow wrongdoing quickly and immediately, i.e. be as close as possible in time to misbehavior. If the child is really sick, then scold him for hyperactivity not only useless, but harmful. In such cases, the baby can only be criticized.

What is the difference between "criticize" and "criticize"? It is necessary to give a positive assessment of the child's personality and a negative assessment of his actions. What does it look like in practice? “You are a good boy, but now you are doing wrong (specifically, it must be said that the baby is doing badly), you must behave like this ...” In no case should you make a negative comparison of your child with other children: “Vasya is good, but you are bad.”

It is recommended to reduce the time spent watching TV and playing computer games. It must be remembered that excessive demands and excessive training loads lead to persistent fatigue of the child and the appearance of aversion to learning. The child is recommended a gentle training regimen - minimal amount children in a group, class (no more than 12 people), shorter duration of classes (up to 30 minutes), etc.

Of course, a comprehensive rehabilitation of such children is needed, using both medication and non-pharmacological means. In this case, treatment should be individualized and prescribed taking into account the examination data.

in the USA and European countries most widely used in treatment attention deficit hyperactivity disorder psychoactive drugs are used. The use of these drugs for high efficiency often accompanied by development side effects. The most common of these are insomnia, irritability, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, headaches, nausea, growth inhibition.

In Russia for treatment for ADHD traditionally used nootropics ( GLIANTILIN, CORTEXIN, ENCEPHABOL). Nootropics are understood to mean medicines positively affecting the higher integrative (unifying) functions of the brain. These drugs are more effective in cases where inattention prevails.

If hyperactivity prevails, preparations containing gamma-aminobutyric acid are used. This substance is responsible for inhibitory, controlling reactions in the brain. Most commonly used PANTOGAM, PHENIBUT. It must be remembered that drugs can be taken strictly according to the prescription of a neurologist.

In addition, for the treatment of children, they act very weakly. electric shock on certain areas of the brain - transcranial micropolarization is used, which reduces the degree of hyperactivity. This treatment reduces the functional immaturity of the brain that underlies ADHD. This method activates the functional reserves of the brain, has no undesirable side effects and complications.

There is another treatment ADHD- a feedback method that allows the brain to find the best way to work and improve attention: since the brain in children is plastic enough, it can be "trained" to function correctly. The essence of the method lies in the fact that electrodes are attached to the child's head, with the help of which the potential generated by the nerve cells the brain, and the cells are displayed on the computer screen. IN game form By "force of will" the child is invited to consciously or unconsciously find ways to reduce the pathological activity of the brain and bring the encephalogram readings back to normal (it is also displayed on the screen). The main task facing the child is to memorize such a "normal" state and try to, if not preserve it, then at least learn to call it up at will. But apply given treatment in children it is possible only from the age of 8-9: it is difficult for young children to understand what exactly is required of them.

The good news is that some hyperactive children "outgrow" their disease, that is, they have adolescence the symptoms of the disease disappear. But in 30-70% of children, ADHD manifestations pass into adolescence and adulthood (especially if this pathology is not treated).

Diagnostic Criteria for ADHD

Behavior features:

appear up to 8 years;
are found in at least two areas of activity (in children's institution and at home, in work and in games, etc.);
not caused by any mental disorders;
cause significant psychological discomfort and disrupt adaptation.

inattention(of the following signs, at least 6 must have been present continuously for at least 6 months):

inability to complete a task without errors, caused by the inability to focus on details;
inability to listen to addressed speech;
inability to complete the work performed;
inability to organize their activities;
rejection of unloved work that requires perseverance;
the disappearance of items necessary for the performance of tasks (stationery, books, etc.);
forgetfulness in daily activities;
Detachment from activities and increased reaction to extraneous stimuli.

Hyperactivity and impulsivity(At least four of the following must have been present continuously for at least 6 months):

Hyperactivity

Child:

fidgety, cannot sit still;
jumps up without permission;
aimlessly runs, fidgets, climbs, etc. in inappropriate situations;
can not play quiet games, rest.

Impulsiveness

Child:

shouts out the answer without listening to the question.
can't wait for their turn.