Is hyperactivity treated in children? Use of folk remedies

Children's hyperactivity is clearly manifested in their behavior and violent emotional expression. All actions and experiences of children with ADHD are characterized by the prefix “over” - they are impulsive, stubborn, absent-minded, capricious, and much more excited than is typical for ordinary children. The persistence of this behavior alarms parents and pediatricians. Determining whether it is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or a parenting error is a complex task, and there is no clear solution for it. What remains for parents? Let us examine in more detail the concept of attention deficit disorder, taking into account all the assumptions.

What can cause ADHD?

• Adverse factors that influenced the course of pregnancy. Maternal smoking, stressful situations, various diseases, taking medications - all this negatively affects the fetus’s body.
• Neuralgia disorders that occurred at birth or during intrauterine development. Often, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder occurs after hypoxia (lack of oxygen) or asphyxia (suffocation) occurs during childbirth or fetal development in the womb.
• The cause may also be premature or very rapid labor. Affects the diagnosis of ADHD and stimulation of the birth process.
• Social factors when a baby grows up in an unfavorable environment. Frequent conflicts between adults, poor nutrition, too soft or harsh methods of education, the lifestyle and temperament of the child himself.

The combination of several dangerous factors increases the risk of ADHD in children. The child suffered asphyxia during childbirth, his upbringing is carried out within strict limits, he faces frequent conflicts in the family - the result will be a clearly manifested hyperactivity of the baby.

How to spot signs of ADHD?

It is not always easy to independently determine whether a child has ADHD. It is possible that attention deficit is the result of other neurological problems. Manifestations of symptoms characteristic of ADHD:

• The first symptoms of hyperactivity are noticeable in infancy. Hyperactive children are characterized by violent reactions to loud sounds and noise, they sleep poorly, lag behind in the development of motor skills, and become excited in games and when bathing.
• A child is 3 years old - the age when the moment comes called the three-year-old crisis. Many children at this age are prone to whims, stubbornness, and mood swings. Children with hyperactivity make everything several times brighter. Their behavior is characterized by delayed development of speech skills, awkward movements, interspersed with fussiness and chaos. There are frequent complaints of headaches, fatigue, enuresis,.
• Marked restlessness. It appears in kindergarten during activities that require concentration. In addition, in a kindergarten setting, the baby has difficulty falling asleep, does not want to sit on the potty, does not want to eat, and cannot be calmed down.
• Problems of preschool age. A child with hyperactivity does not learn well the materials that prepare him for school, but this does not indicate a delay in the child’s development, but rather a decrease in concentration. The baby cannot sit in one place and does not listen to the teacher.
• Poor performance at school. Children with hyperactivity do not get bad grades because of low mental abilities. Blame it on disciplinary requirements. Children are not able to sit quietly for 45 minutes of a lesson, listen carefully, write and do tasks suggested by the teacher.
• Mental problems. From an early age, hyperactive children develop various phobias. Symptoms such as tearfulness, short temper, touchiness, irritability, distrust, anxiety, and suspicion are clearly manifested.

Parents are especially concerned about the fact that the symptoms of ADHD can be complex - they appear regularly and vividly in children.

How is the problem diagnosed?

Doctors do not give a seven-year-old child a neurological diagnosis, even with severe hyperactivity, and do not use medications. The decision is related to the psychology of the growing organism. Preschool children experience two serious psychological crises at 3 years and 7 years (we recommend reading:). So what criteria does a doctor use to make a verdict about ADHD? Let's look at two lists of criteria used to diagnose the disease.

Eight signs of hyperactivity

1. Children's movements are fussy and chaotic.
2. They sleep restlessly: they roll around a lot, talk often, laugh or cry in their sleep, throw off the blanket, and walk around at night.
3. It is difficult to sit in a chair; they constantly turn from side to side.
4. There is almost no state of rest; they run, jump, spin, and jump all the time.
5. They don't handle sitting in line well and can get up and leave.
6. They talk too much.
7. When talking to someone, they do not listen to the interlocutor, try to interrupt, are distracted from the conversation, and do not answer questions asked.
8. When asked to wait, they respond with expressed impatience.

Eight signs of attention deficit

1. There is no desire to perform the task given to them well. Any work (cleaning, homework) is done quickly and carelessly, often not completed.
2. It is difficult to concentrate on details; the child remembers them poorly and cannot reproduce them.
3. Frequent immersion in one's own world, absent-minded gaze, difficulties with communication.
4. The conditions of the games are poorly understood and they are constantly violated.
5. Severe absent-mindedness, resulting in personal items being lost, misplaced, and then unable to be found.
6. There is no personal self-discipline. You have to constantly monitor and organize.
7. Quickly switching attention from one subject or object to another.
8. The controlling mechanism is the “spirit of destruction.” They break toys and other things, but do not admit to what they have done.

If you find 5-6 coincidences in the child’s behavior with the diagnosis of ADHD, show it to specialists (psychotherapist, neurologist, psychologist). The doctor will comprehensively study the problem and find a competent solution.

Treatment methods

Methods for correcting ADHD in children are selected individually. When choosing a treatment method, the doctor proceeds from the degree of development of the problem. After talking with the parents and observing the child, the specialist decides what is necessary in a particular case. Treatment of hyperactive children can be carried out in two directions: medication, with the help of ADHD drugs, or through psychotherapeutic correction.

Medication method

Doctors in the United States and the West treat hyperactivity in children with psychostimulants. Such drugs improve concentration and quickly produce visible positive changes, but they are also characterized by side effects: children experience headaches, disturbed sleep, appetite, nervousness and excessive irritability, and are reluctant to communicate.

Russian specialists do not resort to psychostimulants in the treatment of ADHD, based on the protocol for the treatment of ADHD, according to which the use of such drugs is prohibited. They are replaced by nootropic drugs - a group of psychotropic drugs designed for a specific effect on the higher functions of the brain, which increase its resistance to the influence of negative factors, thereby improving memory and cognitive activity in general. There is no shortage of ADHD medications on the market. Strattera capsule tablets are recognized as an effective representative of ADHD medications. Depressants are given to a child under the strict supervision of a doctor.

Psychological and psychotherapeutic methods

The methods of psychologists and psychotherapists are aimed at correcting behavior. Designed to help improve memory, develop speech skills and thinking. Specialists strive to increase the child’s self-esteem and give him creative tasks. To reduce the syndrome, it is introduced modeling of communication situations that can facilitate communication between hyperactive children and peers and adults. To correct ADHD, a relaxation method is used to help the child relax and normalize brain and nervous activity. A speech therapist deals with speech defects. Complex cases require a combination of medication and psychological methods to correct the situation.

What do parents need to know?

If the problem is identified and there is no doubt about it, parents should know how to properly raise a hyperactive child. Proceed like this:

• Increase your child's self-esteem. The child’s misunderstood hyperactivity pushes adults to constantly reprimand and pull back. They do not ask him, but order him to “shut up”, “sit down”, “calm down”. A little man hears such words in the garden, at home, and at school - he develops a feeling of his own inferiority, while he is in dire need of encouragement and praise. Do this often.
• When building a relationship with your son or daughter, respect personal qualities. Put aside your emotional perception of their behavior, act strictly but fairly. When punishing your child, coordinate your decision with other family members. Understanding that it is difficult for a child to restrain himself and that he indulges in all kinds of bad things, do not do this yourself. Your slipping off the brakes may be perceived by him as normal.
• When keeping your child busy with household chores, give him simple and short-term tasks for which he has enough patience. Be sure to reward him if he completes them.
• Obtaining informative knowledge should be dosed. Allow no more than 15 minutes per lesson to read and prepare lessons. Give your child a break by inviting him to play, then return to your lessons.
• If the child is accustomed to being forgiven for all his pranks at home, then he will certainly face a negative attitude towards his antics at school or kindergarten. Your help consists of clearly explaining to the child his incorrect behavior. Discuss the conflict with him, find a solution to the situation.
• A good solution is to invite your child to keep a diary, which will reflect all his small victories. Such a visual illustration of achievements will be constructive help.

Difficulties of social adaptation

When children with ADHD come to kindergarten or school, they immediately end up on the list of “difficult” students. Hyperactive behavior is perceived by others as inappropriate. Sometimes the situation is such that parents are forced to change schools or kindergartens. You have to teach your child to be tolerant, flexible, polite, friendly - only such qualities will help him in social adaptation.

Tips for teachers and educators:

• keep the hyperactive student in sight at all times;
• put him at the first or second desk;
• try not to focus on the behavior of such a child;
• Praise your successes more often, but don’t do it without a reason;
• involve in the life of the team, make simple requests: wipe the board, bring a class magazine, put notebooks on desks, water flowers.

Turning to the advice of Dr. Komarovsky, we note that he suggests turning complex tasks for such children into a kind of mosaic. Divide cleaning the room into separate tasks: put away toys and relax, lay out books and relax.

Tips for parents:

• protect the interests of your son or daughter, but do not allow open confrontation with teachers;
• listen and take into account the opinions of teachers about your child, an objective view from the outside will help you better understand him;
• never punish your child in front of strangers, especially in front of peers and teachers;
• help with adaptation with actions, invite his friends to visit, take part in school holidays and competitions with him.

Dr. Komarovsky recommends getting any pet for a child with attention deficit disorder. Taking care of a friend will help him become more collected and attentive. Only in cases of complex forms of incorrect behavior do doctors resort to medicinal methods of correcting the disease. Most children are indicated for psychological correction, which is carried out in close cooperation with their parents.

These children stand out from their peers with unstoppable energy. Being constantly on the move, they involve others in their noisy fun. In class they are inattentive, often distracted, and talk. Tasks are completed reluctantly and poorly. They do not react to comments at all or are offended. There are conflicts in the team.

What is this - the result of poor upbringing or a deviation in the child’s psyche? Even experts often find it difficult to answer this question. It is possible that the child has a disease that is based on minimal brain dysfunction—a disruption of the functional activity of individual subcortical structures and areas of the cerebral cortex. The so-called attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, which in medical practice is abbreviated as ADHD.
Scale of the problem

Scientists and specialists from many countries have been studying hyperactivity for a long time. However, the world community sounded the alarm when accumulated scientific research data showed its scale and social significance.

Statistics show that ADHD among school-aged children is widespread. The percentage of the number of hyperactive children to their total number in different countries varies significantly, however, it is in the range of 1-18% in the population. The scattering of data is due to the lack of uniform criteria for diagnosing the disease.

Of great concern is that children with ADHD (almost one in ten children) are at risk. Such children, poorly adapting to the team and then to society, may have problems with the law in adulthood. According to scientific research, up to 80% of criminals suffer from this disease.

The issue of ADHD incidence in Russia began to be studied much later than abroad. However, at first the research was not systematic. Recently, the situation has changed for the better, as evidenced by the annually increasing number of publications. Despite this, among the general population and even among teachers and pediatricians, there is a lack of awareness of issues relating to this disease. As a result, 70-90% of Russian children with ADHD remain without any treatment. Having constant troubles at school, not finding understanding at home and not receiving the parental love they need, such children often seek support in street campaigns. The consequences in most cases are disastrous.

Causes of the disease

The clinical picture of ADHD is characterized by a wide variety of behavioral disturbances, difficulties in perception and social adaptation. This suggests that the syndrome can be caused by many different factors.

There are several possible causes of the disease:

1. Biological (hereditary predisposition, complications during pregnancy, birth injuries).

2. Genetic (congenital deviations from the norm of some brain systems).

3. Social (character and inclinations of parents, conditions of education in the family and school, financial situation of the family).

According to many scientists, the cause of the disease may also be the presence of other factors (ecology, food dyes and preservatives, refined foods, deficiency of vitamins and minerals).

Signs of hyperactivity

Among the numerous signs of this disease, 3 main groups can be named:

1. Lack of active attention: the child is inattentive and often makes mistakes; easily distracted during classes; not organized, loses and forgets personal items; does not like tasks that require concentration and mental stress.

2. Motor activity: the child is constantly in motion, often without a specific goal, fussing; cannot sit still quietly, constantly moves something, fidgets with his hands, moves his legs under the table; sleeps little and poorly; very talkative, even with strangers.

3. Impulsivity: the child answers without fully listening to the question; poorly controls his actions, does not recognize established rules; often conflicts with other children, but quickly forgets grievances and shows aggressiveness;

In addition to the main symptoms listed, children with the syndrome often experience capriciousness, irritability, excessive talkativeness, insensitivity to prohibitions and comments, selfishness, a strong desire for leadership, a tendency to communicate with younger people, and left-handedness (a left-handed child). About half of children with the syndrome have tension headaches.

Depending on the combination of the listed signs, several forms of the disease are distinguished: syndrome with a predominance of attention deficit; with a predominance of hyperactivity and impulsivity; mixed form.

Depending on the severity of the symptoms of the disease, ADHD has 3 forms: mild, moderate and severe.

Dynamics of disease development

The first signs of the disease are noticeable even in infancy: the child sleeps little and poorly, is very mobile, overreacts to stimuli - light, sound, and has constantly increased or decreased muscle tone.

By the age of 3-4, it becomes noticeable that the child cannot concentrate or play independently. He is curious, but he is not interested in the essence.

The most pronounced signs of the disease appear in older preschool and primary school age, from 5 to 10 years. This is due to the development of the central nervous system during this period.

The second peak in the manifestation of signs of the disease is observed at 12–14 years of age. It occurs during the child's puberty.

After 14 years, in most cases, signs of the disease practically disappear. Compensation occurs for missing brain functions. However, secondary acquired characteristics often remain and form the type of “difficult teenager”.

The age dynamics of the development of the disease in boys and girls are somewhat different.
Diagnosis and treatment of hyperactivity

Even if a child has many of the characteristic signs of ADHD, only a neuropsychiatrist can make a correct diagnosis. This will require additional examinations and consultations with parents, a pediatrician, a teacher, a psychologist, and possibly a neurologist and psychiatrist. The difficulty of diagnosing ADHD is explained by the absence of any pathological changes in the brain in the patient that could be detected by hardware during a medical examination. In addition, the matter is complicated by the presence in patients with the syndrome of a large number of signs similar to those of other psychoneurological diseases or borderline mental states.

A complete examination of a child can take several years and requires a lot of patience and perseverance from parents.

In the USA and Western European countries, children with the syndrome are treated mainly with medications. Psychotropic drugs are effective and easy to use. However, along with positive qualities, they also have negative ones: by suppressing the signs of ADHD, the disease itself is not treated; the positive effect of treatment is short-lived, i.e. after completing the course of taking the drug, signs of hyperactivity appear again and treatment can continue for years; an addiction effect to the drug occurs, which requires a gradual increase in its dosage; There are side effects in the form of headaches, loss of appetite, insomnia, irritability.

In Russia, the main emphasis is on behavioral-motor therapy with or without drug support. The issue of using medications is decided by the attending physician on a case-by-case basis.

The goal of ADHD treatment is to restore or compensate for impaired functional connections of the child’s central nervous system and to adapt him to the team and society.

Treatment should be comprehensive and generally include:

Parent counseling;

Pedagogical and social-pedagogical work with the child;

Motor activities with the child;

Psychological therapy;

Medication support.

According to scientists, the most favorable age for treatment is 5-8 years. If the syndrome is not treated, its symptoms may appear in adulthood. At the same time, secondary signs of a sociogenic nature are added to the primary signs of the disease due to constant lag in studies and conflicts with others.

At the first suspicion that a child has ADHD, you should consult a neuropsychiatrist or psychologist for advice. Early diagnosis and timely treatment are the key to an optimistic prognosis for the disease.

Due to the slow development of some brain functions and the development of compensatory mechanisms of the central nervous system, it is not recommended to send a child with hyperactivity to kindergarten or school early.

You should avoid overtiring your child, whether from studying, watching TV, or sitting at the computer. The duration of classes at an early age should not exceed 10-15 minutes and alternate with a break of 5-7 minutes.

You need to praise your child if he deserves it. Hyperactive children are immune to prohibitions and reprimands, but are very sensitive to praise.

It is necessary to abandon physical punishment, using exclusively modern methods of raising children, based on democratic principles. Mutual communication with a child should be based on trust, not fear.

One should not restrain expressions of parental love for a child. He must feel that, despite poor performance or bad behavior, he is loved.

To develop the correct model of behavior in a child, it is necessary to give him an example of a healthy lifestyle and the right actions.

It is necessary to direct the child’s motor activity in the right direction: he is shown active games in the fresh air and physical sports.

It is necessary to support and encourage the child in the manifestation of his inclinations. This increases his self-esteem.

Products with food dyes and preservatives, and refined foods should be excluded from the child’s diet. It is necessary to give preference to natural products, fresh vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins.
Conclusion

A hyperactive child is not just an isolated case of illness in children, but a social problem of national importance for society. The number of children with ADHD is alarmingly high and continues to rise. The vast majority of them do not receive any treatment or assistance. Left to their own devices, deprived of parental love and understanding of others, children with the syndrome often find solace in drinking alcohol and drugs. They are called "problem children." It is necessary to change the attitude of parents, teachers, and doctors towards this non-children's problem. One of the most important tasks is to improve methods of diagnosis, treatment and pedagogical work with sick children.

A hyperactive child needs to be treated. And treat correctly.
Recommended reading:
Bryazgunov I.P., Kasatikova E.V. RESTLESS CHILD or All about hyperactive children. 2nd ed., rev. and additional – M.: Psychotherapy, 2008. – 208 p.
Bolotovsky G.V., Chutko L.S., Popova I.V. Hyperactive child. SPB: NPK "Omega". - 2010. - 160 p.

Hyperactivity is a syndrome characterized by a predominance of excitation processes over inhibition processes in a child. There used to be a term called “hyperdynamic,” which literally means “moving too much.” However, the problem is not only this. The speed and severity of mental reactions, violent expression of emotions (often negative), hyperactivity followed by loss of strength - this is what childhood hyperactivity is. It is better to start treating such a problem from a very early age, so that it does not bring negative consequences into adulthood.

ADHD - concept and definition

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition characterized by excessive excitability and an inability to stay focused. The development of attention is closely related to the development of will and voluntary behavior, the ability to control one’s behavior.

Is ADHD a consequence of poor parenting and stress or a disease? It is impossible to answer this question unequivocally. Most likely, there is a combination of factors - external and internal.

3 forms of ADHD:

1. Attention deficit disorder without manifestations of hyperactivity. This pathology is most typical for girls. They seem to be on their own, in their fantasies and dreams, “hovering in the clouds.”
2. Hyperactivity syndrome without attention deficit symptoms. Rare form. It is often a symptom of organic damage to the central nervous system.
3. The most common form is attention deficit hyperactivity in children. Treatment of such pathology is carried out comprehensively by at least three specialists: a psychotherapist, a child psychologist and a neurologist.

Causes

Factors that provoke the development of hyperactivity in a child:

1. Complications during childbirth - fetal hypoxia, prolonged or very rapid labor, threat of miscarriage, premature detachment of a normally located placenta.
2. The family's tactics in raising a child are excessive strictness, many prohibitions, overprotection or ignoring.
3. Associated pathologies are diseases of the sensory organs, vegetative-vascular dystonia, diseases of the endocrine system.
4. Environmental stress factors - nervous environment in the children's team.
5. Constant disruption of wakefulness and sleep patterns.

Signs of hyperactivity

Hyperactivity in preschool children is not as difficult to treat as in older children. Many parents and pediatricians mistakenly believe that while the child is small, ADHD is not a pathology: once he goes to school, he will become calm. But alas, at school the manifestations of hyperactivity do not stop, but only get worse.

Preschoolers

Features of hyperactivity in children under 7 years of age:

• Excessive excitability. The child “starts up” from half a turn, it is very difficult to calm him down.
• A very strong and violent reaction to various manipulations. The baby doesn’t like to get dressed, stubbornly doesn’t want to go anywhere, and so on.
• Excessive emotional lability. With any, even the most harmless, remark, crying immediately begins.
• Acute reaction to external stimuli (light, sound) - screaming, squealing, sleep disturbance. Such children have difficulty falling asleep and have difficulty waking up.
• Speech development defects. He speaks a lot and quickly, but the result is incoherent, poorly distinguishable sounds - baby babble with defects in diction.

Of course, there can be a lot of reasons for whims in early childhood: from teething to failure to absorb food components due to congenital enzymatic deficiency. Such pathologies should be excluded.

Pupils

Hyperactivity in school-age children is more severe than in preschool children. During this period, socialization begins, and hyperactivity interferes with it. Consequently, problems with academic performance and problems in relationships with peers may arise.. Teachers complain about such children: they believe that the parents have spoiled the child. And they, in turn, are sure that the teacher does not know how to “manage” children.

Typical symptoms of hyperactivity in a schoolchild:

• Restlessness. The average student can study productively for 20-25 minutes, a hyperactive one - no more than 10 minutes. Next, he begins to misbehave, distracting his classmates in various ways (pulling pigtails, throwing papers).
• Moodiness.
• Inattention. You can say the same thing 10 times, but you will not achieve understanding;
• Disobedience. The child seems to be programmed for bad behavior.
• Hot temper. A child can be rude to any remark.
• Low self-esteem leading to depression. Because of the child’s behavioral characteristics, others begin to perceive him poorly. He feels like an outcast, and then takes out his complexes on those around him, proving that he is good and cool.

Behavioral manifestations of hyperactivity are often accompanied by neuropsychiatric symptoms: depression, headache and dizziness, nervous tics (under the background of stress, the eye begins to “twitch” or hands tremble), phobias (sudden and unreasonable fears), enuresis.

Hyperactivity in school-age children without treatment can lead to disastrous consequences.

Manifestations of physical aggression in adolescent hyperactivity:

• fights;
• bullying of animals and peers (even atrocities);
• suicidal tendencies.

Differential diagnosis

Before deciding how and how to treat hyperactivity, the doctor should differentiate this condition from other serious somatic diseases:

• hyperthyroidism;
• chorea;
• epilepsy;
• visual/hearing impairment;
• vegetative-vascular dystonia of the hypertensive type;
• initial stages of autism.

When a child is diagnosed with hyperactivity, treatment should be preceded by anamnesis collection: conversations, interviews, observation of behavior, interviews with parents.

Treatment of hyperactivity

Treatment of a hyperactive child is carried out in two directions: drug and non-drug therapy.

Correction of behavior and lifestyle

Nonspecific (non-drug) therapy includes a whole range of measures

• training according to a special plan (shortened lessons, small number of people in the class, appropriate profile of teachers);
• good sleep;
• compliance with the regime;
• long walks;
• physical activity (hyperactive children enjoy visiting the pool, gym; you can go jogging, cycling or roller skating).

How to treat a child with such mental characteristics? The adults themselves are an example for the child. They must be restrained, not raise their voices at the child again and have emotional contact with him. When a child feels that he is understood and supported, he stops fighting, snapping and offending his peers. The pugnacity of children indicates that something is wrong in the family.

A hyperactive child requires increased attention. You need to be able to captivate him, give a sensitive assessment of the results of his actions in a timely manner, and change types of activities. Calm activities should be combined with dynamic ones - for example, drawing and dancing. All this should be done in a playful way.

You need to be able to stimulate the child to activity. Encouragement and praise are not forbidden, but on the contrary, they are welcomed - such children need it like air.

Physical labor is also important. Walking with an alternation of quiet activities (observation of nature) and active games (ball, jump rope, roller skates, running competitions) has a very good effect.

In public places you can often see mothers raising their voices at their children, tugging at their children’s hands, even slapping them on the back of the head. It seems that their parents are ashamed of them. Everyone looks at such mothers with sympathy. A hyperactive child must be given “instructions” on how to behave in a store, in a movie, in a swimming pool, or on a playground.

It is necessary to practice reasonable prohibitions: you cannot say “no” to your child without explaining anything. You should patiently voice the reason for this or that taboo, offering an alternative option. If the child managed to behave well, then in the evening he should receive a “reward” - playing his favorite toys together, watching a movie, or a treat.

The best thing for hyperactive children is treatment in the early stages, when you can do without medications.

Specific treatment

During adolescence, a hyperactive child without treatment becomes very aggressive and even dangerous. You can't do this without medications.

1. Autogenic training, psychotherapy (individual or group).
2. Medicines:

• Nootropic drugs to improve blood supply to the brain - Piracetam, Phenibut, Encephabol, Cortexin (in tablets and injections).
• Antidepressants. In pediatric practice, it is better to use serotonin uptake inhibitors (Maprotiline, Fluoxetine, Paxil, Deprim), which help improve mood, reduce the frequency of suicidal thoughts, and combat chronic fatigue.
• Glycine is an amino acid, an “inhibitory” neurotransmitter in the brain.

Traditional methods

Treatment of hyperactivity in children with folk remedies consists of using medicinal herbs individually (lemon balm, chamomile) or soothing herbal preparations.

Herbal products:

• Leuzea extract is a tonic, mood-improving, performance-enhancing agent.
• Schisandra tincture has a general strengthening, antidepressant effect.
• Ginseng tincture - reduces fatigue and increases the ability to concentrate.
• Persen - used for poor sleep and increased nervous excitability.

It is important to make an accurate diagnosis in time and choose the right therapeutic methods. Without treatment, ADHD in childhood does not go away as you get older.. Such people, even in adulthood, cannot concentrate and concentrate on something important; they do not have time to do anything. They have troubles at work, which leads to depression and neuroses.

Hyperactive child- This is a baby suffering from excessive motor mobility. Previously, the presence of a history of hyperactivity in a child was considered a pathological minimal disorder of mental functions. Today, hyperactivity in a child is classified as an independent illness called a syndrome. It is characterized by increased physical activity of children, restlessness, easy distractibility, and impulsiveness. At the same time, individuals with a high level of activity have a level of intellectual development that corresponds to their age norm, and for some, even above the norm. Primary symptoms of increased activity are less common in girls and begin to be detected at an early age. This disorder is considered a fairly common disorder of the behavioral-emotional aspect of mental functions. Children with excessive activity syndrome are immediately noticeable when surrounded by other children. Such little ones cannot sit quietly for a minute in one place, they are constantly moving, and rarely finish things. Symptoms of hyperactivity are observed in almost 5% of the child population.

Signs of a hyperactive child

It is possible to make a diagnosis of hyperactivity in a child only after long-term observation of child behavior by specialists. Some signs of increased activity can be seen in most children. Therefore, it is so important to know the signs of hyperactivity, the main one of which is the inability to concentrate attention for a long time on one phenomenon. When detecting this sign, you need to take into account the age of the baby, since at different stages of child development, the inability to concentrate manifests itself differently.

A child suffering from increased activity is too restless, he constantly fidgets or rushes about, runs. If the baby is in constant aimless movement and has an inability to concentrate, then we can talk about hyperactivity. Also, the actions of a child with increased activity should have a certain amount of eccentricity and fearlessness.

Signs of a hyperactive child include the inability to combine words into sentences, a persistent desire to take everything into hand, disinterest in listening to children's fairy tales, and the inability to wait their turn.

Hyperactive children experience a decrease in appetite along with an increased feeling of thirst. It is difficult to put such babies to sleep, both during the day and at night. Older children with hyperactivity syndrome suffer. They react sharply to completely ordinary situations. Along with this, it is quite difficult to console and calm them down. Children with this syndrome are overly touchy and quite irritable.

Obvious precursors of hyperactivity in early adulthood include sleep disturbances and decreased appetite, low weight gain, anxiety and increased excitability. However, it must be borne in mind that all of the listed signs may have other causes not related to hyperactivity.

In principle, psychiatrists believe that the diagnosis of increased activity can be given to children only after they have passed the age of 5 or 6 years. During the school period, manifestations of hyperactivity become more noticeable and pronounced.

In learning, a child with hyperactivity is characterized by an inability to work in a team, difficulties with retelling text information and writing stories. Interpersonal relationships with peers do not work out.

A hyperactive child often exhibits behavior in relation to his environment. He is inclined to not fulfill the teacher's requirements in class, is characterized by restlessness in class and unsatisfactory behavior, often does not complete homework, in a word, such a child does not obey the established rules.

Hyperactive kids, in most cases, are too talkative and extremely awkward. For such children, everything usually falls out of their hands, they touch everything or hit everything. More pronounced difficulties are observed in fine motor skills. It is difficult for such children to fasten buttons or tie their own shoelaces on their own. They usually have ugly handwriting.

A hyperactive child can generally be described as inconsistent, illogical, restless, absent-minded, disobedient, stubborn, sloppy, clumsy. At an older age, restlessness and eccentricity usually go away, but the inability to concentrate remains, sometimes for life.

In connection with the above, the diagnosis of increased childhood activity should be treated with caution. You also need to understand that even if the baby has a history of hyperactivity, this does not make him bad.

Hyperactive child - what to do

Parents of a hyperactive child should, first of all, contact specialists to determine the cause of this syndrome. Such reasons may be genetic predisposition, in other words, hereditary factors, reasons of a socio-psychological nature, for example, climate in the family, living conditions in it, etc., biological factors, which include various brain lesions. In cases where, after identifying the cause that provoked the appearance of hyperactivity in a child, appropriate treatment is prescribed by the therapist, such as massage, adherence to a regimen, taking medications, it must be carried out strictly.

Correctional work with hyperactive children, first of all, should be carried out by the parents of the children, and it begins with creating a calm, favorable environment around the children, since any discrepancies in the family or loud showdowns only “charge” them with negative emotions. Any interaction with such children, and in particular communicative, should be calm and gentle, due to the fact that they are extremely susceptible to the emotional state and mood of loved ones, especially parents. All adult members of family relationships are recommended to follow the same model of behavior in raising a child.

All actions of adults in relation to hyperactive children should be aimed at developing their self-organization skills, removing disinhibition, developing respect for others and teaching accepted norms of behavior.

An effective way to overcome the difficulties of self-organization is to hang special leaflets in the room. To this end, you should determine the two most important and most serious things that the baby can successfully accomplish during daylight hours, and write them on pieces of paper. Such leaflets should be posted on a so-called bulletin board, for example, in a child’s room or on the refrigerator. Information can be displayed not only through written speech, but also through figurative drawings and symbolic images. For example, if your child needs to wash the dishes, you can draw a dirty plate or spoon. After the baby completes the assigned order, he must make a special note on the reminder sheet opposite the corresponding order.

Another way to develop self-organization skills is to use color coding. So, for example, for classes at school, you can have notebooks in certain colors, which will be easier for the student to find in the future. Multi-colored symbols also help to teach your child how to put things in order. For example, attach leaves of different colors to boxes for toys, clothes and notebooks. Labeling sheets should be large, easily visible, and have different designs to represent the contents of the boxes.

In the primary school period, classes with hyperactive children should mainly be aimed at developing attention, developing voluntary regulation, and training the formation of psychomotor functions. Also, therapeutic methods should cover the development of specific skills of interaction with peers and adults. Initial corrective work with an overly active baby should occur individually. At this stage of correctional influence, it is necessary to teach the little individual to listen, understand the instructions of a psychologist or another adult and pronounce them loudly, and express independently during classes the rules of behavior and norms for performing a specific task. It is also advisable at this stage to develop, together with the baby, a system of rewards and a system of punishments, which will subsequently help him adapt to the group of his peers. The next stage involves the involvement of an overly active baby in collective activities and should also be implemented gradually. First, the child must be involved in the game process and work with a small group of children, and then he can be invited to participate in group activities that involve a large number of participants. Otherwise, if this sequence is not followed, the baby may become overexcited, which will cause loss of behavioral control, general fatigue and lack of active attention.

It is also quite difficult to work with overly active children at school, however, such children also have their own attractive traits.

Hyperactive children at school are characterized by a fresh, spontaneous reaction, they are easily inspired, and are always willing to help teachers and other peers. Hyperactive kids are completely unforgiving, they are more resilient than their peers, and are relatively less prone to diseases than their classmates. They often have a very rich imagination. Therefore, it is recommended that teachers, in order to choose a competent strategy of behavior with such children, try to understand their motives and determine the model of interaction.

Thus, it has been practically proven that the development of the motor system of children has an intense impact on their comprehensive development, namely, on the formation of visual, auditory and tactile analyzer systems, speech abilities, etc. Therefore, classes with hyperactive children must certainly include motor correction.

Working with hyperactive children

Three key areas involve the work of a psychologist with hyperactive children, namely the formation of mental functions that are lagging behind in such children (control of movements and behavior, attention), the development of specific abilities to interact with peers and the adult environment, and work with anger.

Such correction work occurs gradually and begins with the development of one function. Since a hyperactive child is physically unable to listen to the teacher with equal attention for a long time, restrain impulsiveness and sit quietly. After sustainable positive results have been achieved, you should move on to simultaneous training of two functions, for example, lack of attention and behavioral control. At the last stage, you can introduce classes aimed at developing all three functions simultaneously.

A psychologist’s work with a hyperactive child begins with personal lessons, then he should move on to exercises in small groups, gradually involving an increasing number of children. Because the individual characteristics of children with excessive activity prevent them from concentrating when there are many peers nearby.

In addition, all activities should take place in an emotionally acceptable form for children. The most attractive for them are activities in the form of games. A hyperactive child in the garden requires special attention and approach. Since the appearance of such a baby in a preschool institution, many problems arise, the solution of which falls on the teachers. They need to direct all the actions of the baby, and the system of prohibitions must be accompanied by alternative proposals. Gaming activities should be aimed at relieving tension, reducing stress, and developing the ability to focus attention.

A hyperactive child in kindergarten has a rather difficult time withstanding quiet time. If the baby is unable to calm down and fall asleep, then the teacher is recommended to sit next to him and talk to him affectionately, stroking his head. As a result, muscle tension and emotional arousal will decrease. Over time, such a baby will get used to quiet time, and after it he will feel rested and less impulsive. When interacting with an overly active baby, emotional interaction and tactile contact are quite effective.

Hyperactive children at school also require a special approach. First of all, it is necessary to increase their learning motivation. For this purpose, you can use non-traditional forms of correctional work, for example, use the teaching of children by older students. Senior schoolchildren act as instructors and can teach the art of origami or beadwork. In addition, the educational process should be focused on the psychophysiological characteristics of students. For example, it is necessary to change types of activities if the child is tired, or to fulfill his motor needs.

Teachers need to take into account the unusual nature of disorders in children with hyperactive behavior. They often interfere with the normal conduct of classes, because it is difficult for them to control and manage their own behavior, they are always distracted by something, and they are more excited in comparison with their peers.

During schooling, especially at the beginning, it is quite difficult for children with excessive activity to complete an educational task and be careful at the same time. Therefore, teachers are recommended to reduce the requirements for accuracy in such children, which will further contribute to their developing a sense of success and increased self-esteem, which will result in an increase in learning motivation.

Very important in the correctional impact is working with the parents of a hyperactive child, aimed at explaining to adults the characteristics of a child with excessive activity, teaching them verbal and non-verbal interaction with their own children, and developing a unified strategy for educational behavior.

A psychologically stable situation and a calm microclimate in family ties are key components of the health and successful development of any child. That is why it is necessary, first of all, for parents to pay attention to the environment surrounding the child at home, as well as in a school or preschool institution.

Parents of a hyperactive child should ensure that the child does not become overtired. Therefore, it is not recommended to exceed the required load. Overwork leads to children's whims, irritability and worsening of their behavior. In order to prevent the baby from becoming overexcited, it is important to follow a certain daily routine, in which time is necessarily allocated for daytime sleep, outdoor games are replaced by quiet games or walks, etc.

Parents should also remember that the less comments they make to their hyperactive child, the better it will be for him. If adults do not like children's behavior, then it is better to try to distract them with something. You need to understand that the number of bans must correspond to the age period.

A hyperactive child needs praise very much, so you should try to praise him as often as possible. However, at the same time, you should not do this too emotionally, so as not to provoke overexcitation. You should also try to ensure that a request addressed to a child does not carry with it several instructions at the same time. When talking to your baby, it is recommended to look into his eyes.

For the correct formation of fine motor skills and comprehensive organization of movements, children with high activity should be involved in choreography, various types of dancing, swimming, tennis or karate. It is necessary to attract children to games of an active nature and sports orientation. They must learn to understand the goals of the game and obey its rules, as well as try to plan the game.

When raising a child with high activity, there is no need to go too far; in other words, parents are advised to adhere to a kind of middle position in behavior: they should not be too gentle, but they should also avoid excessive demands that children are not able to fulfill, combining them with punishments. Constant changes in punishment and parental moods have a negative impact on children.

Parents should spare no effort or time to form and develop obedience, accuracy, self-organization in their children, to develop responsibility for their own actions and behavior, the ability to plan, organize and bring to completion what they started.

To improve concentration during lessons or other tasks, you should, if possible, eliminate all factors that irritate and distract your child. Therefore, the child needs to be given a quiet place where he can concentrate on lessons or other activities. While doing homework, parents are advised to periodically check in with their child to check if he is completing his assignments. You should also provide a short break every 15 or 20 minutes. You should discuss your actions and behavior with your child in a calm and benevolent manner.

In addition to all of the above, correctional work with hyperactive children also involves increasing their self-esteem and gaining confidence in their own potential. Parents can do this by teaching their children new skills and abilities. Also, academic success or any achievements in everyday life contribute to the growth of self-esteem in children.

A child with increased activity is characterized by excessive sensitivity; he reacts inadequately to any comments, prohibitions or notations. Therefore, children suffering from excessive activity need the warmth of loved ones, care, understanding and love more than others.

There are also many games aimed at teaching hyperactive children control skills and learning to manage their own emotions, actions, behavior, and attention.

Games for hyperactive children are the most effective way to develop the ability to concentrate and help relieve disinhibition.

Often, relatives of children with increased activity experience many difficulties in the process of educational actions. As a result, many of them, with the help of harsh measures, fight against the so-called children's disobedience or, on the contrary, in despair, “give up” on their behavior, thereby giving complete freedom of action to their children. Therefore, work with the parents of a hyperactive child, first of all, should include enriching the emotional experience of such a child, helping him master basic skills, which helps smooth out the manifestations of excessive activity and thereby leads to a change in relationships with close adults.

Treatment of a hyperactive child

Today the question has arisen about the need for treatment of hyperactivity syndrome. Many therapists are confident that hyperactivity is a psychological condition that should be subject to corrective action for the further adaptation of children to life in a group, while others are against drug therapy. Negative attitudes towards drug treatment are a consequence of the use of amphetamine-type psychotropic drugs for this purpose in some countries.

In the former CIS countries, the drug Atomoxetine is used for treatment, which is not a psychotropic drug, but also has a number of side effects and contraindications. The effect of taking this drug becomes noticeable after four months of therapy. Having chosen drug intervention as a means of combating hyperactivity, you should understand that any drugs are aimed solely at eliminating the symptoms and not at the causes of the disease. Therefore, the effectiveness of such an intervention will depend on the intensity of the manifestations. But still, drug treatment for a hyperactive child should be used exclusively in the most difficult cases. Since it can often harm the child, due to the fact that it has a huge number of side effects. Today, the most gentle medications are homeopathic drugs, since they do not have such a strong effect on the activity of the nervous system. However, taking such drugs requires patience, since their effect occurs only after accumulation in the body.

Non-drug therapy is also successfully used, which should be comprehensive and developed individually for each child. Typically, such therapy includes massage, manual manipulation of the spine and physical therapy. The effectiveness of such drugs is observed in almost half of patients. The disadvantages of non-drug therapy are the need for an individual approach, which is practically impossible in the conditions of modern healthcare, huge financial costs, the need for constant adjustment of therapy, lack of qualified specialists and limited effectiveness.

Treatment of a hyperactive child also involves the use of other methods, for example, the use of biofeedback techniques. For example, the biofeedback technique does not completely replace treatment, but it helps to reduce and adjust drug doses. This technique refers to behavioral therapy and is based on the use of the body’s hidden potential. The key task of this technique involves the formation of skills and their mastery. The biofeedback technique is one of the modern trends. Its effectiveness lies in improving children's ability to plan their own activities and understand the consequences of inappropriate behavior. Disadvantages include inaccessibility for most families and the inability to obtain effective results in the presence of injuries, vertebral displacement and other diseases.

Behavioral therapy has also been used quite successfully to correct hyperactivity. The difference between the approach of specialists and the approach of followers of other directions lies in the fact that the former do not seek to understand the causes of the phenomenon or predict their consequences, while the latter are engaged in searching for the origins of problems. Behaviorists work directly with behavior. They positively reinforce so-called “right” or appropriate behavior and negatively reinforce “wrong” or inappropriate behavior. In other words, they develop a kind of reflex in patients. The effectiveness of this method is observed in almost 60% of cases and depends on the severity of symptoms and the presence of concomitant diseases. The disadvantages include the fact that the behavioral approach is more common in the United States.

Games for hyperactive children are also correctional methods that help develop skills in controlling motor activity and managing one’s own impulsivity.

Comprehensive and individually designed treatment contributes to a positive effect in the correction of hyperactive behavior. However, we should not forget that for maximum results, the joint efforts of parents and other close associates of the child, teachers, doctors and psychologists are necessary.

The term “hyperactive child” has been on everyone’s lips lately: doctors, educators, teachers, psychologists, parents. How to distinguish a fidget from a baby with signs of attention deficit? How to distinguish between ordinary pampering and neurological disorders?

A hyperactive child is characterized by a number of qualities: impulsive, excited, stubborn, capricious, spoiled, inattentive, absent-minded, unbalanced. It is important to understand: in what situations you need professional help from a psychologist, drug treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and when it is necessary to reconsider the principles of education. It often happens that parents are looking for a “rescue pill.” But it is enough to rebuild the relationship with your son or daughter for recovery to occur in the most natural way. This requires time, effort, patience and, most importantly, the desire to change something in yourself and your relationship with your children.

What is hyperactivity associated with?

The causes of hyperactivity in children most often lie in the perinatal period of fetal development and difficult labor.

• Unfavorable pregnancy. Stress, smoking, poor lifestyle, illness, taking medications during pregnancy - all this can affect the development and formation of the fetal nervous system.
• Neurological disorders during fetal development and at birth. Hypoxia (lack of oxygen during intrauterine development) and asphyxia (suffocation) are the most common causes of ADHD. Rapid or premature labor and stimulation of labor can also affect.
• Additional factors. Unfavorable psychological atmosphere in the family, conflicts between parents, too hard or soft methods of education, nutrition, lifestyle, temperament of the child.

The likelihood of ADHD increases significantly if these factors are combined. For example, a child was born with asphyxia, premature, he is brought up in strictness and constant conflicts - hyperactivity in such a baby can clearly manifest itself.

How to recognize hyperactivity in a child

Diagnosing ADHD is not easy because signs of hyperactivity can be symptoms of other neurological disorders. What should you pay attention to?

• First symptoms. May appear in infancy. Poor sleep, a long period of wakefulness from the first months of life, excitability of the baby, an atypical violent reaction to noise, bright light, games, hygiene procedures, a slight lag in the development of motor skills - all these can be the first precursors of hyperactivity in children under one year old.
• Age 3 years.
• A turning point in a child’s life, when the famous three-year crisis occurs. At this time, most children experience capriciousness, stubbornness, and mood swings. In hyperactive children, these signs appear even more clearly. Also, children with ADHD experience awkward, chaotic, fussy movements, and speech develops late.
• Health. Hyperactive kids often complain of fatigue and headaches. Such children are often diagnosed with enuresis and nervous tics. The first signs of restlessness.
• Kindergarten teachers can pay attention to them. When the process of socialization begins and the child leaves the family, signs of restlessness become more obvious. In kindergarten, it is impossible to put a baby to sleep, feed him, sit him on a potty, or calm him down. Disturbances in the development of memory and attention in preschool age.
• Children under 7 years of age develop intensively memory and attention. A child with ADHD experiences slow learning when preparing for school. And this is not explained by a developmental delay, but by insufficient concentration of attention. It is difficult for a child with signs of hyperactivity to sit in one place and listen to the teacher. Failure in school.
• Let us emphasize once again that poor grades in children are associated with hyperactivity disorder and attention deficit disorder, and not with their mental inclinations. On the contrary, hyperactive schoolchildren are often precocious. But the problem is that it is difficult for them to integrate into the system and discipline: it is difficult to sit through 45 minutes of a lesson, listen, write, and complete the teacher’s assignments. Mental aspects.
• Perspective.

In adolescence, such a child, as a rule, develops (more precisely, it is formed by adults) low self-esteem. A hyperactive teenager can be aggressive, intolerant, conflict-ridden, and uncommunicative. It is difficult for him to find friends, to establish warm, friendly relationships. In the future, he may develop antisocial behavior.

Symptoms of ADHD in children appear complexly and regularly. You should not immediately attribute a “fashionable” diagnosis to your child for excitability, poor sleep, and moodiness, which are observed from time to time. Many objective factors can change the psycho-emotional state of the baby. The reason may be teething, a change of environment, visiting a kindergarten, failure in a game, etc. Even climatic conditions affect the condition and behavior of the baby.

Diagnosis of ADHD

And yet, until the age of 6-7, no one makes a neurological diagnosis, even if there are signs of ADHD. This is explained by the psychological characteristics of preschool children. In preschool age, children experience two serious psychological crises - at 3 years old and 7 years old. What criteria are used to make a medical diagnosis of ADHD?

1. 8 manifestations of hyperactivity
2. Chaotic, fussy movements.
3. Restless sleep: turns around, talks in his sleep, throws off the blanket, can walk at night.
4. Cannot sit in a chair for long, spins around all the time.
5. Unable to be at rest, often in motion (running, jumping, spinning).
6. If you need to sit and wait (for example, in a queue), you can get up and leave.
7. Excessively talkative.
8. Doesn't answer the questions asked, interrupts, interferes in someone else's conversation, doesn't hear what they say to him.

Shows impatience if asked to wait.

1. 8 manifestations of attention deficit
2. Carelessly and quickly completes assigned tasks (homework, cleaning the room, etc.), does not complete the task.
3. Has difficulty concentrating on details, cannot remember or reproduce them.
4. There is an absent look, immersion in one’s own world, and communication difficulties.
5. Difficulty in understanding the terms of the game and often violates them.
6. Absent-minded, he often loses personal items or puts them away in such a way that he cannot find them later.
7. There is no self-discipline, you need to organize it all the time.
8. Easily shifts attention to other objects.

The “spirit of destruction” lives in him: he often breaks toys and things, but denies his involvement in the matter.

If parents count 5-6 matches from the listed criteria, they need to see a pediatric neurologist, psychotherapist and psychologist.

When treating hyperactivity in children, it is important to understand what will be most effective for a particular child? What is the degree of ADHD? Is it worth using medications right away or is psychotherapeutic correction enough?

Medication methods

Medical treatment of ADHD with psychostimulants is more often used in the West and in the United States. Stimulants help increase concentration in children and give quick positive results. However, they have a number of side effects: poor sleep, appetite, headaches, irritability, nervousness, reluctance to communicate. These signs usually appear at the very beginning of treatment. They can be reduced as follows: reducing the dose and replacing the drug with an analogue. Psychostimulants are prescribed only for complex forms of attention deficit, when no other method works. These include: Dexedrine, Focalin, Vyvanse, Adderall and many others. In Russia, the prescription of psychostimulant drugs is avoided because, according to the protocol for the treatment of ADHD, they are prohibited. They are replaced with nootropic drugs. The drug "Strattera" is widely used in the treatment of ADHD in children. Any antidepressants for attention deficit disorder should be used with great caution and only under the supervision of a physician.

Working with a psychologist and psychotherapist

This is an important part of therapy, which in difficult cases is carried out in parallel with drug treatment. Psychologist and psychotherapist use a variety of techniques to correct the behavior of a hyperactive child. Various exercises are given to develop attention, speech, thinking, memory, increase self-esteem, and creative tasks. Various communication situations are also modeled to help the child find a common language with parents and peers. Specialists have to work with anxiety and fears in hyperactive children. Relaxation methods are often used to help relax, relieve tension, and normalize the functioning of the brain and nervous system. For speech defects, sessions with a speech therapist are recommended.

What is important to know? Psychocorrection for a child will be effective only when the parents cooperate with the specialist and accurately carry out all the tasks and advice of the psychologist or psychotherapist. Parents often have the following attitude: “cure the child,” when it is the relationships in the family that need to be treated.

Lifestyle correction

Daily routine and hyperactivity are two things that, at first glance, are incompatible. And yet, parents need to arrange life according to a schedule for the fidget.

• It is extremely important to maintain a sleep schedule: go to bed and get up on time. If a restless person is behind schedule, it is difficult to put him to bed and difficult to bring him to his senses in the morning. You should not overload such children with information before bedtime or play active games. The air in the room should be fresh and cool.
• Organize nutritious meals. You need to avoid snacking, especially fast food. It is advisable to reduce fast carbohydrates (sweets, baked goods) in the diet, which excite the nervous system.
• Walking before bed. Fresh air calms the nervous system. In addition, there will be a good opportunity to talk and discuss how your day went.
• Physical exercise. Necessary in the life of a hyperactive child to discharge his irrepressible energy. You can try yourself in individual and team sports. Although the latter will be more difficult. Athletics, gymnastics, cycling, and swimming are most suitable. It’s good if a child plays sports for himself. Competitions and any competitive moment will bring even more tension and aggression. Much in this situation depends on the coach and his teaching skills.

Reminder for parents raising a child with ADHD

How to raise a hyperactive child?

• Increase self-esteem. Hyperactive children are often punished and discouraged: “sit down”, “don’t move around”, “shut up”, “calm down”, etc. This is regularly repeated at school, at home, in the garden. Such comments create a feeling of inferiority in the child. All children need to be praised, but hyperactive children especially need emotional support and praise.
• Build personal boundaries with children. You need to raise fidgets in strictness, but fairness. Punishments and restrictions must be consistent, appropriate, and agreed upon by all family members. Children with signs of ADHD often do not have “brakes.” The task of parents is to show their own boundaries, demonstrate parental will and make it clear who is boss in the house, and clearly formulate prohibitions. There should be no aggression. If mom and dad have too soft a character, a hyperactive family member will certainly take the reins of power.
• Small and useful tasks. Hyperactive children should be involved in household chores and their initiative should be encouraged. It is better to give simple, step-by-step tasks. You can even draw a plan, a diagram, a step-by-step algorithm of actions. These tasks will help your child organize his personal space and time.
• Don't overload with information. When reading books or doing homework, you need to give light loads - 15 minutes each. Then take a break from physical activity, then start again with a static activity that requires concentration. Overwork has a detrimental effect on children with ADHD.
• Learn a new type of activity. It is difficult to interest hyperactive children in anything for a long time; they switch their attention too quickly. However, you need to look for different types of activities (music, singing, drawing, reading, modeling, dancing) in which the child will reveal himself to the maximum. You need to find something that will invisibly “educate” the ego and require some kind of personal effort and motivation.
• Communication aspects. For hyperactive fidgets, everything is forgiven at home, but they often find themselves in conflict situations with teachers and rejected by their peers. It is important to discuss with children their life outside the home, difficult situations, and the causes of conflicts. This will help them adequately evaluate their actions in the future, control themselves, be aware of their emotions, and learn from their own mistakes.
• Success Diary.

Psychologists recommend keeping a notebook or notepad where you can write down (or sketch) all the big victories and small successes. It is important that the child is aware of the results of his own efforts. You can also come up with a reward system.

Some parents believe that the best cure for hyperactivity in children is vitamin D, that is, a belt. This harsh remedy only aggravates the problem and will never eliminate the real cause of disobedience. The behavior of children with ADHD often causes the righteous anger of parents, but it is still better to avoid spanking.

Difficulties of social adaptation

• In kindergartens and schools, children with ADHD are classified as “difficult.” Sometimes conflicts associated with inappropriate hyperactive behavior become so aggravated that it is necessary to transfer the child to another kindergarten or school. It is important to understand that the public education system will not adapt to the individual characteristics of the child. You can search for a suitable kindergarten or school for a long time, but still not find it. In this situation, it is important to teach the child to show flexibility, patience, friendliness - all those qualities that are so important for communication and normal social adaptation.
• hyperactive students should be in the teacher’s field of vision;
• it is better for them to sit at the first or second desk;
• do not focus on the behavioral characteristics of such children;
• give small tasks in which the child will move: bring a magazine, distribute notebooks, water flowers, wipe the board;
• Emphasize the student’s strengths and provide an opportunity to demonstrate them.

• be on the child’s side, but not create an open conflict with the teacher;
• find compromise solutions;
• listen to the teacher’s opinion, because an objective view from the outside can be valuable for understanding your own child;
• do not punish or lecture a child in the presence of a teacher and peers;
• help adapt to the children's team (take part in joint events, you can invite children to visit, etc.).

It is important to find not some special school or private kindergarten, but a teacher who will understand the problem and be an ally of parents.

Treatment of a hyperactive child with medications is advisable only for complex forms of ADHD. In most cases, psychocorrection of behavior is carried out. Therapy is much more successful if parents are involved. After all, a child’s hyperactivity is often associated with family relationships and improper upbringing.

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