If there’s something I’ve learnt in my years as an educator it’s this simple truth – “Sit still!” never works with children.
They don’t just get it. And they’re not to be blamed. They’ve a different wiring which goes from 0 to 100 the second their eyes open. Even those cars on the race track can’t match them.
Even before you’ve had your first sip of tea (or coffee), they’d have completed a full parkour routine across the room or house, taken out the toys from the basket, interrogated you about something they had asked yesterday, changed their breakfast order for the nth time and …basically lived a life before your day began!
But kids aren’t hyper for no reason. Hyperactivity is rarely a character flaw.
Mostly it’s a tired, overloaded under-stimulated body trying to regulate itself. And no amount of “Calm down” will get the desired results.
So if you can’t win them, join them. Not literally but by tweaking the approach. Instead of fighting their energy, why not teach them to use it or channelise it?
No harm trying it.
Why Healthy Habits Matter More Than Constant Nagging
Ask a hyperactive child to sit quietly. You’ll get the same reaction as when you ask a pressure cooker not to whistle. All that pent up energy needs a release.
Most of the times, the child gets hyperactive or unmanageable when their basic needs are not met. Sleep, rest, food and activity. Lack of any one of them makes them skittish.
These are the essential tools the children need to regulate themselves. Without them you’ll spend the entire day firefighting a behaviour that could’ve been prevented in the first place.
When their basic needs are met, they’re much more manageable, their energy easy to channelise.
So the first thing to do to manage the high energy kids is to create a set of habits that regulate their routines. They can also act as their energy regulators, channelling it into productive activities.
The goal is simple: don’t suppress their energy; channel it.
Physical Exercise: The Original (and Free) Mental Focus Booster
You will agree that their little bodies want to move, their brains function better when they do. And you can’t expect that when they’re expected to be glued to chairs designed to keep them locked in one position.
Every jump, run, and stretch, pumps oxygen into the brain and boosts dopamine. Yes, it’s the very same chemical that you and I seek through screens, snacks and chaos.
So when you make playtime optional luxury, they’re restricting the children from burning energy, from building focus, from engaging in stimulating, constructive activities.
Mindful Activities: Calmness, the Non-Boring Version
Being mindful or practicing mindfulness is different for the children. Unlike the adults, they don’t have to sit silently like a miniature monk, contemplating the secrets of life.
Teaching mindfulness to children is about taking a pause, slowing down. I didn’t say it’s going to be easy but it’s doable.
- Doodling or colouring mandalas
- Short breathing exercises
- Mental visualisation games
- Board games
- Listening exercises or games
These activities give them a chance to slow down, become calm, even if for a few minutes before they launch again into the orbit.
Balanced Eating: Stable Energy, Stable Behaviour
Whether you like it or not, the hard truth is that food affects behaviour more than you care to admit.
Fuelling them on sugary snacks and junk food, and then wondering why they’re bouncing around like a wound-up toy is a waste of time.
If you want stable energy, feed them healthy food, which translates into stable behaviour. It’s not rocket science; it’s common sense.
Include protein rich breakfast. Serve slow release carbs like oats, millets, wholegrains.
Keep them hydrated with fresh juices and water; carbonated drinks are big NO. Avoid chips, wafers, Kurkure, or other such handy snacks.
Try it out for a few weeks (not a day or two) to see the difference.
Create Rhythms, Not Rigid Schedules
Children need to feel safe. And that feeling comes from a structured routine. Create a flow with daily habits and schedules to reduce anxiety and overstimulation.
Create a balanced routine for your child. Include time for physical activity, focus work, rest and sleep.
This will allow them to enjoy both engagement and calm. And it will do wonders for their mood and concentration.
Environment Matters Too
The next thing to do to ensure they calm down is to make the surrounding less stimulating. It’s not fair to expect them to calm down when the space around them is noisy or chaotic or cluttered.
When doing focus work, declutter their study space. Let there be some natural light if possible. No toys or tablets or games around to distract them.
Let it be their calming corner. You’ll be surprised with the kind of influence a quiet corner can have on their behaviour.
But this calmness cannot be taught. It is imbibed, soaked in from their surroundings.
If they see you constantly rushed, irritated, stressed, or overstimulated, how on earth will they learn to regulate themselves?
Maybe you need a quiet corner for yourself too. Kids will model what they see.
Final Thought: Help Them Channel Energy, Don’t Control It
No denying that the present lifestyles are chaotic and hectic. And the kids are always over-stimulated.
Their energy is part of who they are; it’s not right to ask them to suppress it.
All it needs is mindfulness, improved habits, and adequate physical activity to ensure that the hyperactivity doesn’t transform into something fearful.
Your reaction will set the tone. Work on building a calmer, more resilient, and more emotionally balanced individuals.
If you still prefer to shout “Sit still!”, then all the best calming them down!
