Hyperactivity
It's true that a few toddlers do
Yet when parents insist their tot is unmanageable, many doctors give in and write prescriptions. Unfortunately, instead of giving Ritalin (a substance chemically similar to amphetamines or “speed”) to parents so they can keep up, they medicate little ones!
Don't request medication for your child; you might get it. Just as you might get antibiotics from a doctor who knows full well that they won't cure your child's virus and that the side effects pose a danger. Instead, try the following:
If your child is running circles though the house, open the door so he can run circles in the backyard. Don't say it's too cold out. What do you think kids do in Alaska? They wear heavy coats!
If she's climbing the walls, take her to the park so she can climb the jungle gym.
If he breaks everything he touches, put the breakable stuff away and teach him how to handle objects gently.
The drugging of American youth is a national scandal. Millions of prescriptions for antidepressants and other mind- and mood-altering medications are written for increasingly younger children. Although psychiatrists may frequently prescribe psychotropic medications, as of this writing, none were FDA approved for this age group.
If she doesn't nap and hardly sleeps at night, she's probably not getting enough exercise. If more vigorous play doesn't help, cut out junk food and eliminate stress, since kids get “hyper” when they're nervous just like adults. If that doesn't work, be happy for her! She'll have extra time every day for the rest of her life to work and play while the rest of the world is sawing logs. (See "Super Toddlers." The personalities of toddler geniuses and hellions can be hard to tell apart.)
