In modern households and classrooms, a rising issue causing tension between generations is the hyperactive child. Found in every other classroom and home, these children are often loud and chaotic, and they tend to fidget or hit their siblings. While many parents and teachers respond with yelling and label these children as "bad" or "disrespectful," experts argue that this behavior is entirely outside the child's conscious control.
The ‘internal bucket’ overflow
Hyperactive children act as emotional "sponges," absorbing chaos, stress, and constant instructions from adults around them. Whether it’s pressure about academic performance or household stress, these feelings build up until the child’s "internal bucket" overflows. Since their small bodies can’t hold all this emotional weight, they often release it through physical actions — leading to the loudness, running, and classroom disruptions that frustrated adults frequently observe.
A search for connection in a busy world
The increase in hyperactivity is also connected to a lack of connection in busier lives. As parents spend less one-on-one time with their children, hyperactive outbursts can be seen as a cry for attention, essentially telling the parent: "I exist; see me, hear me."
The science of overstimulation
Modern environmental factors are further "boosting" children's energy levels to levels that are uncontrollable. There can be several key triggers, such as:
- Fast-paced cartoons and bright visual colors.
- Constant noise and screen time.
- High-sugar diets that provide an artificial energy spike.
When a child’s brain becomes overstimulated by these factors, it enters a "high alert mode." In this physiological state, the child’s heart beats faster and their breathing changes, making it nearly impossible for them to process instructions or stay still.
A call for channelled energy
Instead of relying on discipline and labels, adults should view these behaviors as reflections of the nervous system. The focus should move away from punishment and toward channeling the child's energy to support their physiological and emotional well-being.
