“Children’s motor activities should not be over-restrained. For the sake of both mental and physical health, children need to run, jump, climb, skip, etc. Concerns for the health of the furniture is understandable, but it must not supersede concern for the health of children. Inhibitions of physical activity in young children results in emotional tension, which may be expressed in aggression.”- Dr. Haim Ginott.
In theory, I agree with Dr. Ginott, but living with a child who on many days is a blur as he bounces off the furniture and the walls, makes me long for the days when he couldn’t walk. I know that eventually he will slow down but I find myself asking “When?”
I recall a visit to his pediatrician just before we left New Orleans. Tyler was doing his usual thing. He was all over the exam room. I was trying to discuss some issue with his doctor while keeping an eye on what he was doing when she stops me and says, “I know you’re not going to believe this, but this is normal.”
Here I was thinking of asking her for something to slow him down and she tells me that this was normal. Little kids need a lot of movement and physical activity. The world is one big playground and they want to stay in the sandbox as long as they can. They need activities that will allow them to develop their fine and gross motor skills. They need to be able to run and play and jump and skip- even if it drives their parents batty.
Trying to make an active child sit still for five minutes can be a difficult task. So why do it? You shouldn’t, that’s the point. Running and jumping is what kids do. How difficult can it be for a child to sit still for five minutes? Hard. You try it. Go ahead, the next time you’re in the middle of doing something, try to make yourself stop and sit still for five minutes. It’s hard. I tried it Sunday so I know what I’m talking about. You see, I kept saying, “Can’t you sit still for five minutes.”
“No, mama,” Tyler responded, “it’s too hard.”
So I decided to show him that it wasn’t hard at all. “Come, let me show you”, I said.
Tick-tick-tick. Did someone stop time? Five minutes dragged on for what seemed like five hours. Although I wasn’t fidgeting, my mind was racing and I did find it hard to sit still and do nothing for five minutes.
With school ending this week, I can look forward to lots of jumping, running and tumbling. However, I realize now that when Tyler says he can’t sit still he’s not being defiant; he’s just being a kid.
See also:
ADD Or Is Your Child Actually Gifted?
Children With ADHD May Benefit From Outside Play