Although every child needs love and attention, children with psychomotor disorders need them even more. Their behaviour, tiring to everyone around them, causes serious problems and unpleasantness, especially to themselves. Given the ever-growing number of children with this type of disorder, it’s worth knowing how to deal with them to show as much understanding and support as possible. That is why we have prepared a “code” of behaviours and attitudes that will help in this.
- Organization – children with ADHD should have their environment as organized as possible, which may also include an element of possible pharmacological support. Let’s remember that such children live in constant internal chaos and with a sense of non-localized anxiety, therefore everything that surrounds them should have order.
- Show understanding and support – it is harder for such children to find friends because of their dysfunction. It is harder for them to succeed and receive praise. Let’s try to provide reassurance and opportunities to succeed and make it easier for them to reach their goals.
- Introduce routine – this is an important part of the order we mentioned in the first point. Strict routine times for getting up, going to sleep, eating and chores, will give them a sense of security and stability in their surroundings. In addition, hyperactive children need more time for rest and recovery, and these daily routines will make it easier for them.
- Limit stimuli – because these children are easily distracted, you should try to keep the home calm. Avoid playing loud music, frequent guest visits, home parties, or using multiple electronic devices at once. You need to ensure that your child focuses on one activity at a time. So, for example, it’s best to not allow them to eat in front of the TV, etc.
- Sensory games – touching, smelling, tasting and experiencing are extremely important elements in the treatment of hyperactive children. That is why you should look for ways to build sensory awareness, preferably through play. You can also use weighted products (e.g. blankets to help them fall asleep and calm down, or vests to wear every day). These will actively support therapy and also help in soothing emotions.
- Plan – children with ADHD hate quick and unexpected changes. Anything that’s sudden introduces confusion into their lives and can end in an equally rapid instability. So stick to the detailed plans and routines as best as you possibly can. If there needs to be a deviation, try to explain quietly to your child what is or will be happening.
- Organize the workplace – every school-age child, especially hyperactive, should have a comfortable and quiet workplace with few distracting objects around. The best will be bright furniture and organizers, in which we can arrange the necessary school accessories, such as pencils, pens, etc.
- Give them the opportunity to speak – as a parent of a hyperactive child, try to give your child every opportunity to express opinions and immediately and calmly try to organize all his chaotic and often incoherent statements.
- Arousing curiosity – try to arouse your child’s interests and engage him in specific activities. Remember to accompany him all the time in the process of achieving specific goals, by trying to organize the various stages.
- The art of flexibility – if your hyperactive child is not your first, then your existing parenting methods may not work. Children with ADHD require clear rules, but excessive rigour often has a counterproductive effect.
- Be a companion – your child needs care and attention, so try to accompany him in play, in difficult moments (which in their case are sometimes not obvious), as well as in calming and relaxing activities. Your presence is extremely important to him!
- Confront – try to calmly confront the child with the consequences of his behaviour, without emotion. Remind him and tell him what to do to better organize his time and be able to use the strategies. As often as possible show what will happen if […].
- Reminders – a child with excitability disorders has difficulty remembering, associating facts, and thus performing duties. So try to leave, e.g. sticky notes with specific tasks and day plans.
- Don’t blame yourself! Remind yourself that having such a lively child at home, often unruly, means that you the parent can also respond by becoming impulsive and not acting “right”. If you happen to react with aggression, try to forgive yourself. It is necessary to apologize to your child and keep on trying to learn how to control emotions. If you think you can’t do it, ask a specialist for help – there is nothing embarrassing about that!
