Is Your Child Always Jumping Around? Expert Shares One Effective Tip to Keep Them Calm and Focused

Parents often worry when their children seem constantly hyperactive, unable to sit still or focus. Child psychology expert Shweta Gandhi shares a simple yet effective approach to help channel a child’s energy in a positive way, making them calmer and more focused.

Understanding Hyperactivity in Children
Children are naturally active, and some kids remain highly energetic most of the time. While occasional play and movement are normal, parents may feel frustrated when their child never seems to settle down. Shweta Gandhi, founder of Happy Minds, emphasizes that this behavior is a normal part of development and can be guided rather than suppressed.

Movement is Part of Learning
The expert explains that children, especially boys, often understand and process the world through movement. Jumping, running, or climbing helps their brain maintain balance, improves body awareness, and supports emotional regulation.

Channel Energy Through Activity
Shweta suggests that before meals or study sessions, parents should encourage children to engage in active play. High-energy kids can benefit from exercises like pushing, pulling, frog jumps, or jumping jacks. Such physical activity helps release excess energy and calms the nervous system, allowing the child to focus better afterward.

Don’t Treat Movement as Distraction
Parents should never see their child’s movement as a distraction. Instead, it should be treated as a vital part of their growth. By guiding rather than restricting their energy, children learn to control themselves naturally. For instance, before starting homework, ask the child to do 10 frog jumps or 10 jumping jacks. This allows them to channel their energy constructively.

Key Advice for Parents

• Never tell high-energy children to “sit still” or “calm down” abruptly.
• Allow movement and guide it in a structured way.
• Use active exercises to help the nervous system reset before focusing on tasks.

By understanding and directing their energy, parents can help children become calmer, more focused, and emotionally balanced—without suppressing their natural development.