Raising a Hyperactive Child: 5 Essential Tips for Parents

Raising a hyperactive child can be challenging, but it’s important to remember that every child is unique, and their energy levels and behaviors may vary. Instead of comparing your child to others, it’s crucial to understand and support their individual needs.

In this blog post, we’ll explore five helpful strategies for parents with hyperactive children to create a more harmonious and balanced environment for everyone.

1. Give your child plenty of opportunities for physical activity

The World Health Organization recommends that kids should get at least 3 hours of physical activity a day – and more is better! This should include moderate to vigorous physical activity.

Physical activity is NECESSARY for your child’s brain development. Kids who get enough exercise aren’t only healthier but are smarter too.

2. Acknowledge Your Child’s Temperament

A two- or three-year-old who doesn’t stay seated for worksheets or an online class is NOT hyperactive. A four-year-old who doesn’t want to trace letters of the alphabet is NOT lazy.

And did you know that if your child runs, jumps, and twirls around, that IS sensory play? Better than any sensory experience you can get from a “sensory bin”!

If you take a look at your free guide to toddler activities – many of them involve a lot of movement. Learning Through Play also includes done-for-you-age-appropriate activities and sensory activities. It also has a process you can use to evaluate the toddler activities and programs that are all over the internet.

3. Direct their energy to where it’s acceptable

Instead of thinking of your child’s behavior as “hyperactive”, think of it as “energetic” and “enthusiastic”.

When I was a child, I remember our teachers trying to get our energy up with the song, “I’m alive, alert, awake, enthusiastic.” That means these are GREAT characteristics we want kids to have – and this describes your toddler perfectly!

Make the most out of these wonderful traits. Give your child a useful task. Let them carry their books back to the shelf. Or even help you sweep the floor (even if all they do is lug the broom and dustpan around 🙂 ).

Show your child that their play area is a good place to move around, but the kitchen isn’t. Physical barriers like play fences are helpful for this.

4. Adjust expectations and choose age-appropriate activities

A two- or three-year-old who doesn’t stay seated for worksheets or an online class is NOT hyperactive. A four-year-old who doesn’t want to trace letters of the alphabet is NOT lazy.

And did you know that if your child runs, jumps, and twirls around, that IS sensory play? Better than any sensory experience you can get from a “sensory bin”!

5. Limit screen time

Screen time is linked to hyperactivity in kids.

I know limiting screen time is tough, especially during this time. Having age-appropriate screen-free activities will help (and Learning Through Play has a module all about this too).

There’s the final question that many moms worry about – Is this ADHD?

The definition of ADHD includes “age-inappropriate hyperactivity/impulsivity or inattention”. This means that we compare with the expected activity level for age. This also means that we don’t go around labeling kids as “ADHD”. This diagnosis needs a full evaluation by a developmental and behavioral pediatrician.

Also, look at your child’s language and social skills. At this age, any difficulty with language or social skills would be a better clue that something may be the problem.

If you have any concerns about your child’s hyperactivity – or anything about your child’s development – the best thing to do is to speak with your pediatrician or get a referral for a developmental and behavioral pediatrics consult.

Every child and every family is different. That “treatment” that you find online that worked for someone else and has many testimonials will not help and may even be harmful. Random advice from different people about what they think you should do will only confuse and overwhelm you.

Cherish this time in your child’s development. Whether they are running around making your house look like a tornado passed through, or whether they are curled in your lap with a book – these are all priceless moments.

Disclaimer: If you have any concerns about your child’s hyperactivity – or anything about your child’s development – the best thing to do is to speak with your pediatrician or get a referral for a developmental and behavioral pediatrics consult.⁠ The information discussed in this blog post does not replace getting a diagnosis or therapy.