Children can be a handful at certain moments.  As a parent, it can be challenging to know exactly how to handle it and what’s causing it.  Knowing what to do when your child is bouncing off the walls can be especially challenging if you’re a first-time parent or you’ve only had to handle a child with a calmer temperament.

The first step to finding a solution and strategy is to first identify the reason behind why they have so much pent-up energy.  Here are some of the most common reasons, and what to look for.

A Medical Condition

Some children suffer from ADHD and can’t control that they have such excessive energy.  They have difficulty being able to handle their emotions and energy, and are not only challenging to others around them but challenging to themselves.

Taking them to a specialist to be able to determine whether this is what they’re going through is the best way to start.  Once they are diagnosed, you can start looking at your options and suggestions for treatment.

Having this information will not only help you feel better as a parent, but it will help them to feel more informed about why they may suffer from being able to concentrate or regulate their energy.

Not Enough Physical Activity

Some kids have so much energy that it’s essential that they run around every day in order to burn it all off.  When energetic kids are kept indoors without having an outlet to burn it off, then they are more likely to act up and cause issues.

Try to make sure that children are getting in at least one hour of physical activity a day.  They are less likely to have tantrums and will fall asleep much earlier.

Not Enough Sleep

It may seem counterintuitive that children who are running low on sleep may be more hyperactive, however, a symptom of being overtired is hyperactivity.

Depending on their age, children should be getting anywhere from 8 to 12 hours of sleep.  If they get less than this, it won’t just cause them to potentially act up, but their school performance may be affected.

Encourage good sleeping habits by limiting their screen time before bed and enforcing healthy nighttime rituals.

Emotional Anxiety

When children are dealing with emotional upset it can often take the form of hyperactivity.  It’s important for them to process their feelings, otherwise, they may bottle it up and cause behavioral issues at home and at school.

Since they may not always have the language to be able to express their feelings to you depending on their age, you may have to try to do some investigating yourself whether this is what’s causing it.  Whether it’s bullying in school or something at home which may be a cause.