The goal of good parenting is to raise children to be well-educated, responsible adults through constructive discipline. This task can require more effort for some parents than others, especially for those who care for "energetic" children--boys and girls who develop high-spirited temperaments that keep them on the go. Finding the right balance between disciplining and meeting the needs of energetic children has expanded the common practices of parenting.
Features of Energetic Children
Most children are full of energy and engage in active play as they grow up, but energetic children are more active than regular children. Energetic children will continuously run around and move from one activity to another without any signs of exhaustion. According to Home Educator's "Family Times," gifted energetic children can keep at a homework assignment for hours on end until finished. In contrast, most children will periodically break, or rest, between difficult tasks.
Focus on the Bright Side
Because of their hyperactivity, energetic children can receive some potentially damaging labels. Attachment Parenting International warns that mislabeling the consequences of undesirable behaviors can impair the child-parent relationship. That is, focus less on blaming the child for her actions, which were possibly accidental or uncontrollable, and more on buffering those actions by concentrating on the positive. For example, instead of chastising your child for breaking a toy, remark on how another toy has lasted for so long. Discipline does not have to involve yelling or feelings of resentment.
Be a Good Role Model
Exhibit behaviors you want your energetic child to follow. For instance, when upset that he is being too loud, do not reprimand him with screaming. Yelling to get your way is one of the last behaviors you want to teach your child, especially if he is energetic. Of course, signs of defeat and weakness make for inadequate parenting, but you can approach the situation by sternly calling your child into order and sending him to a time-out.
Time-Out
Like yoga, if administered properly, the time-out can potentially help energetic children learn to settle down and control their energy, according to the University of Michigan's Health System. Your time-out chair or room needs to be in a location where stimulating activity will not amuse or distract the child. Furthermore, time-outs should be brief--five minutes long--and if the child has not learned to behave in five minutes, then extend it to 10. Time-outs work best for children between the ages of two and four, when children follow actions more than words. Also, make clear which kind of behaviors will result in time-out--screaming, breaking things, making messes--so that the child can monitor her energetic behavior accordingly.
Misconceptions of Energetic Children
One of the biggest misconceptions about energetic children is that they are fully responsible for their behavior. On the contrary, most of their spirited nature is the result of an innate temperament--a pattern of overly active, fixed behaviors--that can be guided and shaped, but neither muted nor destroyed. A truly energetic child will remain outgoing and effervescent in social situations (if extroverted) or when isolated (if introverted), regardless of how harshly you punish him. Therefore, invest more energy into harnessing your child's potential to do good. For example, if you know he becomes very excitable in large crowds, then consider if he would make a good entertainer or sportsman and look into ways of fulfilling that. Likewise, if he excels or displays immense energy when alone, then channel that through creative outlets or academics. In other words, discipline the energetic child while attending to his needs and inclinations.
