Episode 33: Hyperactivity vs. activity in early childhood: What’s normal, when you need to seek more support, and how to help meet your child’s needs

If you have a child who seems to be constantly moving—running, climbing, jumping, touching everything, or just generally keeping you on your toes—you may have wondered, “Is this just their personality, or is something else going on?”

And that distinction matters. Because some children are naturally more active as part of their temperament, while other children may be struggling with attention, impulse control, sensory processing, or regulation in ways that are making everyday life harder.

In this episode, I’m talking about activity level versus hyperactivity—what’s typical in early childhood, when certain behaviors may signal that your child needs more support, and what you can do to meet the needs of a child who seems to have a lot of energy. This included:

Reviewing research and providing examples on:

• Activity level as a temperament trait
• Defining activity vs. hyperactivity
• How context, sensory processing, regulation, and sleep influence activity level
• Signs that more support may be needed

Describing strategies (start at 16:24) to use in your own parenting:

• Build movement into the day
• Make expectations developmentally realistic
• Reduce unnecessary regulatory demands
• Get close before giving directions
• Use visual and environmental cues
• Teach regulation when they're regulated
• Look for the function of the movement/behavior
• Support regulation through co-regulation

Suggesting books:

• “My Busy Body” by Marybeth Butler
• “From Head to Toe” by Eric Carle
• “Move!” by Robin Page
• “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” by Michael Rosen
• “My Magic Breath: Finding Calm Through Mindful Breathing” by Nick Ortner & Alison Taylor
• “Breathing Makes It Better” by Christopher Willard
• “The Rabbit Listened” by Cori Doerrfeld
• “The Out of Sync Child” by Carol Kranowitz
• “Sensational Kids” by Lucy Jane Miller
• “The Whole Brain Child” by Dr. Dan Siegel & Tine Payne Bryson
• “How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen” by Joanna Faber & Julie King

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If you want more support with understanding your child’s behaviors, emotions, or development:

• Download my 5-Minute Temperament Snapshot: https://parentempowerance.myflodesk.com/temperamentsnapshot
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