Does your child have too much energy? Take the test!

Are you living with a hurricane?
Does your child have too much energy?

It can be incredibly trying as a parent to have a child who just never sits still, and frustrating too, if his or her behaviour affects others.

So how do you know whether the amount of energy your child has can be considered normal, or abnormal?

All children are agile and energetic, so what’s the difference? Take our test and find out.

How many of the following can you answer ‘yes’ to?

1. Your child runs everywhere. In fact, s/he doesn’t just run, they race as though there’s a finish line ahead.
   
   
2. Your child has figured out how to get past all your safety controls, such as child locks, electrical outlet covers, safety latches and locks.
   
   
3. Your child uses furniture as though it’s a jungle-gym. Scaling bookcases and tall furniture poses no problem because your child believes s/he is the next Ninja Warrior.
   
   
4. Your child is loud. You need to wear earplugs just to save your hearing. You feel sorry for your neighbours.
   
   
5. When your child spots a collection of pots and pans, they start making ‘music’.
   
   
6. When you’re in the supermarket, your child uses the aisles as their own personal skating rink.
   
   
7. Your child is the most impatient person you know and refuses to wait their turn for anything.
   
   
8. Your child has the most violent tantrums it has ever been your mortification to witness.
   
   
9. Flying on a plane with your child threatens national security.
   
   
10. If your child doesn’t have regular mealtimes they become feral.
    
    
11. When you tell your child to stop, they don’t seem able to.
    
    
12. Your child cannot sleep through the night.
    
    
13. When playing with other children, your child is very controlling.
    
    
14. Your child finds it difficult to keep friends.
    
    
15. Your child is overly confident, and some may say, arrogant.
    
    
16. Your child is always fidgeting and squirming.
    
    
17. Your child seems incapable of staying in one place for more than one minute.
    
    
18. Your child is easily bored, and likes to jump from one activity to another, and then another, leaving you with the constant tidying up and unfinished projects.
    
    
19. Your child never stops talking. They interrupt or talk over you, and when placed in an educational environment have a tendency to shout out the answers even when asked to ‘put their hand up’ or wait.
    
    
20. Your child hits mountainous highs, but when s/he crashes, the world might as well end.

The test is a little tongue in cheek, but if you recognise what’s at the heart of these challenges, you may be feeling overwhelmed.

The thing about an over-energetic child is that their over-exuberance can depend on a parent’s subjectivity. You may be happier with boisterous behaviour than your neighbour, for example. If you compare your child to their classmates, how do they fare? If your child’s behaviour is not causing stress or upset to themselves or to others, it may just be normal behaviour at this stage of their development. If you have your doubts you should discuss your child’s energy levels with a teacher or medical professional.

Other articles

Do We Label Too Fast?

Nowadays, it can sometimes seem almost everyone has a mental health issue or learning disorder. But, are we too quick to label people, or is it that we are more aware of the problems? This article looks at some of the issues surrounding these sensitive questions.

7 Reasons Why Your Child is Underperforming

As parents, we often worry about a poor school report as much, if not more, as our kids do! And if your child's grades are slipping, you'll be looking for reasons and if there's anything you can do to help.

Letting go of the past: 5 tips

Lynn Anderson told it very nicely in her song “I beg your pardon; I never promised you a rose garden”. Life isn’t all roses and everybody experiences something they would rather not once in their life.

Even the brightest minds have setbacks!

We all want to be successful but many of us find the path to achieving our dreams is blocked by our fear of failure. Whether you’re trying to lose weight, go backpacking around the world or start up a new business, you need to accept that you might fail many times over before you achieve success.

How to prove your value

Feel like everyone takes you for granted? Whether it's working late to prepare a presentation or cooking a special birthday meal for your partner, it's nice to be appreciated when you've made an extra effort. And if it seems as if people don't notice, you might feel as if no one values you.

10 Tips to get the best out of every day

When we’re stuck in a bit of a rut, the days and nights slip past so quickly that we barely notice them. But life is not a rehearsal!

Do you expect too much from others?

Do you expect more from others than they are prepared to give? Signs that you may be asking too much - and how to break the pattern.

Let's make 2021 better than 2020

For many people, 2020 has been one of the worst years they can remember. The COVID -19 pandemic and social unrest have changed our lives in ways we would not have believed possible a year ago. And when January 2021 comes around, we're still likely to be facing many challenges. Can 2021 be a better year?

Why you're not the best

What are your aims in life? Do you plan to be rich, to be a top footballer, to be a good parent, or to become Prime Minister? However efficiently you plan your life, sooner or later you are going to come up against obstacles to achieving your goals.

Subtle signs your child is unhappy

According to figures from the World Health Organisation, more than 260 million people worldwide suffer from depression. And it's not only adults who are diagnosed with this illness. Children as young as three or four years old can experience depression.