A recent study found that children have higher energy levels than trained endurance athletes. It is believed that children have fatigue-resistant muscles and are said to be able to recover faster from high-intensity exercises than adults (both trained and untrained)
Why is early development important?
The early years are very important for the healthy development of a child. This means that children can grow in an environment where all their needs are met, that is social, emotional, physical and psychological. Positive parenting, a safe, loving home, bonding together through a range of activities, proper nutrition, exercise, and sleep make a big difference in the developmental milestones of a child.
Energetic Children
Are you a mom with extremely active children? Are they always on the move either running around or jumping up and down? Or Do you have kids that prefer a quiet stroll or a walk through the park? Maybe even just read a book in the corner? Both types have their own advantages or disadvantages.
Every individual is born with his own unique temperament. How much energy a person exhibits is one of the unique temperaments an individual possesses and one of the most significant contributing factors that make an individual unique.
A temperament defines the way a child responds to the world around. While these traits remain consistent throughout. They can also be managed based on parenting or learning techniques adopted by parents.
Please do not confuse energetic children with ADHD. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder and should be diagnosed by a professional.
The activity level of children?
The activity level of children is the amount of physical motion a child indulges in while performing a task. Some children are born with a lot of energy and they most often show it in all that they do.
How do you gauge the activity level of your child
If you have highly active children, you probably already know it. If you would like, you track the energy of your children on this scale recommended by www.centerofparenting.org. You may rate your child’s energy on a scale of one to five based on the following questions:
Do your children seem to be moving all the time?
Do they have a hard time at mealtimes or waiting patiently in a queue?
Do they have difficulty sitting during long road trips?
Do they get entangled in their blankets at night because they move around a lot?
Do they lean towards sports with a lot of movement like soccer or bike riding?
During routine tasks, like brushing or getting ready, do they stay in one place or keep moving around?
Very active children
If most of the answers are yes to the above questions. Then those children will fall under the ‘very active’ temperament. Often these children will tend to wiggle, fidget or move around a lot. They also tend to excel at athletics. As adults these children will excel in a very competitive environment in a job that demands movement.
There are a few things that parents can do to help children to overcome the challenges they may face and to channelize their energies in a productive manner.
Plan activities that involve gross motor skills example, mopping the house, watering the plants
Encourage them to take the steps
Ditch the car and walk whenever you can
Teach them calming techniques
Engage them in a hobby – like art and crafts, or painting, dance
Introduce them to music – It’s a great way to engage children.
Active children like to get dirty, involve them in some potting in the garden. Or plan a fun obstacle race.
Read a book together
Encourage children to write down highlights of the day
Plan role play or a drama at home. Dress up and make up a script. Go with the flow. Kids love spontaneity and doing things differently.
Plan a treasure hunt
Enroll them in a sporting activity like dance, swimming, karate or football. These activities can help children to focus and expend their energies.
Building Blocks / Lego is a great way to keep active children engaged creatively for hours
Turn off the TV. Television and games over stimulate children making it difficult for them to focus and sit still.
Be alert about the diet: Studies suggest that sugar and caffeine are stimulants a child doesn’t need.
Engage them in an online yoga class.
Rotate their toys to add some variety in their play. You can either have different toys set up for different seasons or you can plan an exchange program with a good neighbor.
Stay positive and reward good behavior: Setting limits is important. It helps to rein in some discipline, but it is equally important to reward good behavior.
The role of parents
As parents, it is important to understand that being positive always has more advantages on the overall development of the child. A part of the journey is communicating and bonding with children to acknowledge and understand their temperament. The best thing a parent can do is to help equip the child with self-management skills. Like, teaching them calming techniques and to always intervene at early stages when a certain behavior seems to go out of control. Working together and showing appreciation will have a positive influence in the child’s growth and development.
What Learner Circle can offer for children with excess energy
Learner Circle has a wide range of online courses to keep active children engaged in a productive way at home. The children are closely monitored as the teachers plan their classes to be interactive and we always have a coordinator to ensure all the children are following the class. Our courses are designed to cater to children of different personalities, temperaments and energy levels. Having said that, it is impossible to generalize or stereotype a kid into a particular kind of activity because he behaves a certain way. Each child is unique and only a parent/ teacher who knows the child very well can help guide the child towards an interest or a passion. Please do not hesitate to call us for guidance or ideas on how you can keep your little one busy.
