If you are looking for ways to calm down your super hyper kid and keep yourself from going crazy, you probably stumbled upon a list of “remedies” online.
Some natural, some maybe not too natural.
Maybe you were told to just put some natural plant extracts mixed into their juice, or perhaps enroll them in a Goat Yoga class.
While there are definitely techniques and methods to help calm a hyper kid at home, the “natural” remedies and zen warrior techniques often offered miss a simple point:
Helping a hyperactive child calm down is not so much about calming them down, but about helping you deal with their hyperactiveness and in turn helping the child manage it themselves.
So how do you calm down a super hyperactive kid?
You do it by first changing your reaction towards their hyperactivity, which will help them control it, and then using recommended methods and techniques that will naturally help calm them down.
But let’s get down to the nuts and bolts of what we mean by covering the following points:
- Why the Change Starts with You
- Realistic and Natural Ways to Calm down a Hyperactive Child
- Last Resort Methods
And before we delve in, we want to preface by saying that this is in regards to the general hyperactiveness young kids have because they have so much energy. This is not to be taken as professional help to diagnose any underlying disorder!
Why The Change Starts With You
When you have young kids close in age like we do, hyperactivity just becomes a normal part of your day. I mean, it is really difficult to have two young kids running around, with endless energy, and not be constantly surrounded by hyperactivity.
Listen, let’s be honest, sometimes, ok….A LOT of times, when these endless balls of energy are like energizer bunnies running sometimes what seems like 24 hours a day, we tend to lose our minds.
So what happens then?
We might scream. We might punish them. We might just zone out and not give them attention.
But what happens the most is parents (us included), begin to parent with time constraints and anxiety. We rush our kids to eat, to sleep, to clean up, to shower… it just becomes an endless cycle where the kids are going crazy…so the parents go crazy and what does that do?
You guessed it.
It amps up that super hyper child up even more!
Some kids are naturally more hyper than others.
But even those super hyper kids will respond to their environment.
So you have to CONTROL that environment that feeds into their hyperactivity.
And how do you control that environment?
You control that environment by controlling your attitude towards their hyperactivity.
The change starts with you because if you work on being a calmer, more patient person, than that is the environment your child will have at home.
That means being cognizant of the times we yell at our kids or verbally lash out.
Although it will happen, we have to realize that if it’s a recurring behavior towards them, it will not only increase their hyperactivity but it can also lead to other behavioral problems.
Studies have found that parents (mothers in this case) who practice emotional self control were less likely to report negative child behavior.
This is the same for a hyper active child.
Control your own emotions and reactions towards the hyper activity, maintain a calm environment, and it will help your child manage their hyperactivity and maybe give you some peace and quite!
So really, the best way to calm down a hyperactive child driving you insane, is to calm yourself down.
BUT
How do you calm yourself down?
First realize that they ARE KIDS.
They will run around, they will make noise, they will jump around, accept that. Take them in your life as they are.
Second take care of yourself. It is what Parenting & Dumbbells is all about. Taking care of yourself as a parent. Realize the signs of Parental Burnout and take time to take care of yourself so you can be a better, calmer person for your child that they can positively react to.
Here are some awesome ways to take care of yourself as a parent
Listen, it’s not going to make the hyperactivity go completely away.
But working on yourself, will not only help you be in better control of yourself, but it will help you be a better parent and your child will feel this, making them feel calm and in control which in turns helps control their hyperactivity.
So now that you are calm and in control, what are some things you can add to manage and control your child’s hyperactivity?
Realistic and Natural Ways to Calm Down a Hyperactive Child
Allow them to expend their energy
A cooped up kid at home all day, can get restless! Make sure your child is getting enough outside time. If it’s too cold out, make sure they are engaging in activities or some type of indoor play.
Here are some awesome at home activities to keep your kids occupied when they can’t get outside!
In warmer weathers allow them to run wild (respectfully and safely of course) in your backyard or at a playground.
I sometimes purposely go outside with my kids a little before bed time and play with them. I mean all out, running up and down, laughing, playing, jumping and will make sure they are moving ALOT. Why?
Because usually by the time they get inside a lot of that pent up energy has been exhausted and before you know it they are out for the count!
Give them your attention
Give them your time! Connect with your child!
Many times a kid’s hyperactivity is just begging for their parent’s attention.
Kids behave and control their emotions so much better when they feel their parents are listening, connecting, and respecting their needs.
Set aside the time and give them your attention!
Everyday, even if it is 20 minutes, put everything aside and play with them. Be silly with them. Run around the house with your underwear on your head and q-tips sticking out of your nose. I mean, not that we do that or anything….
Limit Screen time
Listen, we are not the ones to tell you that screen time is the devil for your kids.
While we do believe screen time has to be limited, and some research has correlated negative effects between screen time and inattention, that’s a topic for another article.
However, if you want your kids to be calmer and not so hyperactive DO NOT give them screen time before bed.
That is the worst time to let your kid play with his or her tablet, watch tv or engage in anything screen related.
This will only stimulate your hyperactive child more and make it harder for them to fall asleep.
Keep an organized home
The research and studies are endless.
To list one here would be unnecessary as they are abundant everywhere you look.
Keeping an organized and tidy home does wonders for your mood, focus, anxiety or any depression. This is not only true for adults, but for kids too.
Think about how good it felt coming home when your parents just cleaned up. You just felt comforted, in control, and relaxed.
As parents with younger kids it is hard…okay, almost damn impossible to keep a tidy home all the time!
BUT
As long as we keep up with the daily chores as best we can, it can have a positive effect on a hyper child because it goes back to the first point: it creates a calmer environment and people and kids react negatively or positively to their environment. You want to give your child’s environment at home as much positive so they can feel in control and calm.
Engage and redirect their attention
When my son is running around like a mad man non-stop and I need him to bring it down a level, the first thing I do is engage him.
I will bring it up to his level for literally a few minutes and go crazy with him.
Now that he feels engaged, I have his attention.
I then make sure I am looking at him and he is looking at me. If I have to ask him to look at me, I do.
Now, in a soft, calm and almost playful way I either:
- Ask him to tone down the yelling, running or screaming.
- Redirect his attention to another activity.
And yes…this works about 90% of the time.
Okay…ok….
maybe like 87% of the time…
but again, the point of calming your hyper child down is not to eliminate it…it is who they are, it is to control our reaction to it and help them manage it!
Other “natural” remedies
And yes, of course…there are natural remedies that are “things” rather than actions. And they CAN help.
BUT
The emotional and physical aspects of handling a hyperactive child described above should be FIRST.
Then you can add supplemental factors that can enhance your actions to calm your child down, like:
- Lighting Essential Lavender Oil or other soothing oils in the house
2. Playing Relaxing Music
3. Dimming Lights and Relaxings Baths before bedtime
And Of course…don’t forget the GOAT YOGA!
Last Resort
Sometimes a child’s hyperactivity may not be due only to his or her endless energy. If you think there is something else going on, and you can’t seem to calm your child down no matter how hard you try, it is best to seek professional help.
Here are some differences between a hyperactive child who just has a lot of energy and a child with a possible underlying attention disorder like Attention-Deficit/Hyper Activity Disorder.
However, we always believe in fixing what we can at home first and as best as we can.
We are not mental health professionals, this is our opinion. If you believe your child should be evaluated please seek professional help!
In conclusion, to calm your hyper kid down, calm yourself down! Control the environment, learn how to react to the hyperactivity and redirect their energy to help them manage it!