How to deal with a hyperactive child?

Question

My wife, I and our 16 month old son are currently based in Houston TX. Our son is extremely active and likes to be in the company of other kids / adults. We have filled his room with all kinds of toys and gadgets but he doesnt like to play with them for long . During the weekdays, he has to spend most of this day inside the house. He is ok during the morning but gets extremely cranky when he is not able to go out for long - he also has developed this habit of beating his head against the carpet and the wall and we are scared all the time that he would hurt himself.My wife cant drive right now and I need to be out of the house during day time on my work. In the evenings we usually go out for regular shopping etc. but are not able to find out a place where my child's energy could be properly tapped.

Any suggestions how to deal with this kind of a situation

Answer 1

get an electric chair

Answer 2

My oldest son use to do all that too and was dignosed as adhd/bi-polar since he was 4yrs old. He is 12 now and I thought that I was going to go nuts from all the things he has done. He does need a continuous level of running or jumping or just to play real hard for and hour or so which will make him fall fast asleep. Keep him on a routine as much as possible which will illiminate some of his behaviors. My son tried to banging his head on the floor at the hospital which made the nurses freak but he was ok. And to help him with the temper tantrum in a store was when I switched and sat on the floor which made him realize how stupid he looked.He was embarrassed when I threw the tantrum and that was the last time he ever did that. Try a board that he can earn stickers for things he does all week for his good behaviors and then when he gets so many ...rent a movie and have popcorn, or game night or have a visual box of little things as rewards at the end of the week. And before I forget ,the foods which contain RED dye in it, even Kool-aid and some juices stay away from because for some reason it makes em hyper. After 2 p.m. seems to be the most of the out of control which is the time to bounce on a small indoor trampoline til he gets worn out. This will help him concentrate anytime of the day. Also with the toys, put some away in boxes and alternate the toys every other month which he will play with them as if they were new again.

Answer 3

The correct way to handle this is to first consult a doctor. They can do tests on your child to see if he has some sort of disorder like add or adhd. If there is a problem then they can give him a meds, and if there is not a problem, discipline should be the factor. You should make sure he can give him at least an hour or two of outside time or take him somewhere to get his energy time. Then, if there is still a problem, you must use discipline. A lot of people don't want to spank their child, or make them mind, but that is really the only way to have control over your child in the future. Of course you don't want to abuse your authority, but when he beats his head against the wall, time out may be an option. Make him set there for 5 minutes... do not hug him, or speak to him, and if he gets up set him back down and set with him, telling him why he is in time out. Let him know that what he has done isn't the right. Another thing you need to monitor is their sugar intake, and how much the child eats. This could make a tremendous difference in his actions.

Answer 4

Hi - you're son is a little baby yet and needs a lot of attention and affection still. Having not seen him, it sounds to me TRULY as if he is very bored. He may be banging his head in frustration because he's too small to know how to entertain himself or a combination of that and he wants an adult to come stop him - again; because he is too small to entertain himself and needs an adult present.

I wouldn't say that he's hyper yet. There is normally 'active' and 'hyper' - two different things. If you want to kill two birds with one stone (find out if he's hyper and/or what to do to make things better...) - contact your local Dept. of Family Services. Most states have an early intervention program called First Steps. It's FREE and provides all kinds of stuff up until he turns two years old. He may need occupational therapy (covered by First Steps) or they can teach you how to play with him in constructive ways. Tell them your situation and see what they suggest. Also local school districts have a program called Parents As Teachers - they send someone to your house once a month who will sit down and evaluate the family dynamics and make suggestions as to how it can be improved through various play activities.

If he was actually hyperactive I think he would be exhibiting a whole slew of actions more 'hyperactive' than just not playing with his toys and some headbanging. Does he run in circles, jump all over the place uncontrollably, throw things, break things, dive into couches and pillows repeatedly, have an unusually loud indoor voice, is he completely uncontrolable, ect? Hyper children cannot be controlled or made to calm down no matter what you do. It's as if they literally can NOT stop themselves. He is a bit young yet, I hope you'll try some other things first and not put him on medicine for hyperactivity unless you honestly think he has a real problem and it's not just boredom.

I think you should try first at least once a day getting down on the floor with him and wrestling around, play hide-n-seek, push him on an outside swing or turn him loose on a toddler junglegym, ect. If you guys aren't exhausted from playing with him at least once a day then there is your problem right there.

Good luck.

Answer 5

a 16 month old isnt "hyperactive" he's a baby. Find some playgroups or something, play and interact with him more, don't just put him in front of toys, get on the floor with him and play too. Babies need to interact a lot because that is how they learn about their world.

As for the tantrums and crankiness, often times this is a hidden food intolerance and/or food allergy. Keep track of what you are feeding him and how he acts in the following hours, you may find he has a food intolerance.

You may also want to try a nap schedule where at the same time everyday you put the baby down for a nap. Eventually he will catch on to that being time for rest and will develop the routine. this can also help with late afternoon irritability.

Answer 6

Can she walk him in a stroller up and down the street when he gets really cranky? Let him push the stroller. Beating his head on the floor and wall is maybe just frustration. Keep him away from the walls. Stop him immediately when he starts to bang his head on the floor. If your wife is a stay at home mom she can get his attention by getting him a baby V smile play set. A friend of mine is a stay at home mom and has a 12 month old. She loves the baby V smile games. Do this only when he can't go outside. When it's nice out let him play outside but watch him closely. Some one had a good idea about letting him dig holes. Let him dig a hole and encourage him to see how deep he can dig one hole. See if you can make him run up and down the yard with a ball.

Answer 7

Lets be blunt, shall we? Your son is 16 months old, he is a baby. He is not even a toddler yet. Chances are he can't even speak in a clear sentance yet to tell you what he wants? So you get frustrated when HE gets frustrated. Toys and gadgets are NOT going to entertain your child. You son needs stimulation. He needs to be let outside to run, jump, roll around, yell, talk loudly, laugh, and play. If there are no other kids around, trust me, he will still do all of this on his own. Or even better his Mommy could do it with him. Our kids need constant interaction at that age. That is how they learn. Just like someone said above me. . .he needs to channel his energy elsewhere. Being couped up all day would drive anyone, not severly depressed, insaine. And NAPS. . .yes he still needs them. Usually 4 hours awake then down for 2-2 1/2 hours at that age is good. Then in bed for the night at 7 or 8 pm. He has to be on a schedule. Kids crave schedules. I have 3 boys, trust me. When we had no order, it was total choas. It was a living nightmare and I wanted to run away and never look back, lol. But we came to our senses that WE had the power and we took it back and now things are well. We still struggle a bit, who doesn't, but things go so smooth now. With a schedule.
Good luck to. Just please remember that this will involve you AND your wife being commited to change and being consitent.
Good luck and God Bless.

(ok spell check was not working for me here, and I stink at spelling, so if there are errors, sorry!)

Answer 8

Listen,sir i know that someone of these answers seem really rude so let me give you so good advice. Your child just needs a few challenges. Get him interested in inside activities. Try board games or interactive television. He may just be crying for attention as well. Maybe you should put him in a daycare(if you can afford it)so that he can be around other kids. Some times kids can get bored seeing the same people everyday all day.
As far as the beating his head. That might be a serious problem.You may need to talk to a professional. He can develop serious problems in his future and then someone could blame you for not taking action in soon enough time.

Answer 9

He's not hyperactive he's acting like a child his age would act when he's not properly stimulated. Its normal for a child to have more ability to remain contained and level headed in the morning, they become exhuasted in the evenings and cant reason anymore.

Also, toddlers dont know how to play on their own for more than 10-20 minutes at a time. They have to be taught how to imagine and play and interact with their world. Parenting is very much a one on one line of work.

Iam not saying he needs mom right there with him every minute of the day, but also take into consideration that most toddlers at this stage have a natural attention span of maybe 20 minutes tops.

He needs to be able to run and play and jump and roll and be a toddler through out the day. Its how he learns to control and use his body. He also needs to learn whoa nd when to control himself (again for short periods of time) by sitting with toys or watching a progam or reading a book. He has to be TAUGHT these things, not told to do them. You have to sit with him and teach him how to sit still while his mind goes places and does stuff.

He sounds very normal for his age, it just sounds more to me like you two werent prepared for the energy and physical demands of a very young child.

you have to balance activities with quiet time, so he can learn to use and enjoy both.

Answer 10

First of all, if your son is getting cranky in the afternoon, put him down for a nap. He is only 16-months-old, and should be having regular naps.

Second, throw the kid in the backyard! Let him run around out there...the fresh air makes kids tired, so that will calm him down some and he will sleep better at night.

If that doesn't work, lock him in a cage.

J/k.

Answer 11

Try playing classical music during the day.

They do make Homeopathic All Natural Tablets for CALM

Calms Forte 4 Kids, Tablets
by Hyland's

Search the web for Hyland's Products. You can find most of them at walgreen's, Rite Aid, GNC and so on

Most kids frustration come from bad nights of sleep in my experience.

I have one child that is very hyperactive and this worked for us. What I love about it is...All Natural.

I also make sure she gets plenty of milk and breads at each meal..it helps weight her down

And make sure to not give any sugar of any kind or caffenie.