If I was ever asked to describe my son in two words or less, I would say “pure energy.” I once had a mom with twins tell me she felt sorry for me. Jonathan’s energy is one of the many reasons I chose to homeschool. That statement may not make sense right off the bat, but let me explain.
If Jonathan went to public school, I am sure he would be diagnosed with ADHD. If that were the case, I would be pressured to put him on drugs to help with that. If I were to diagnose him, I would diagnose him as having little boy-ism. Is he over energetic at times, most certainly, but that’s what makes him, him. I love him the way he is, not the way a school would want him to be.
Not only is over energetic “just the way he is,” it is also the way he learns. Jonathan is a tactile and kinesthetic learner, he needs to be allowed to learn the best way he is able. When I am reading to him, he is always doing something. He could be playing with legos, running around in circles, bouncing on the couch, or anything in between, but he’s moving and/or doing something. After I am done reading, you could ask him any question about what I just read, and he would be able to answer it. If he is forced to “sit still and listen,” he does not remember a single thing about any information just given to him. Just like some people have to take notes to learn, and some people need to doodle while listening to a lecture, and some people just need to sit and listen, Jonathan just needs to move.
Do you have a child who just can’t stop moving while you are doing school activities? Don’t try to stop them, let them. Give them more to do while they are learning, or less distracting things if need be, but don’t try to stop them. Some suggestions could include: get a big exercise ball for them to roll around on while being read to or while reading, make a list of quiet activities they can do while doing their work so they know what is okay and when it is okay, make sure you have a lot of manipulatives available for them to use, do a lot of hands on activities with them.
Do you have a tactile learner? Do you have any suggestions for other parents of tactile learners? Please share.