Parenting expert explains why your child is hyperactive (besides ADHD or ADD)

Hyperactivity in kids may cause concern among parents, since it is often associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

ADHD is a condition that hampers brain development and brain activity, affecting attention, the ability to sit still, and self-control. That said, hyperactiveness or inattentiveness may be some signs of the condition.

However, not all hyperactive kids have ADHD. Being extra active and restless can also point to other factors. Parenting expert Riri Trivedi takes to Instagram and reveals 5 main reasons why kids could become hyperactive.

Also read: Explainer: What is overparenting? Here's how to identify if you are doing it

Although from a scientific point of view there is no evidence to suggest consuming sugar can make a child hyperactive, Trivedi notes that it could be one of the primary reasons.

"When there is excessive sugar in the diet that you are giving your child, (it) increases the glucose in the blood and there may not be enough physical activity for an outlet," she explains.

This idea that sugar can impact behaviour was first introduced in 1973 by allergist Benjamin Feingold. It was also known as 'Feingold theory', which was based on the stories from parents, where they claimed food additives, including sugar, made their children restless or hyperactive.

However, research is still ongoing regarding the same.

Also read: Parenting styles that may be turning you into a bad parent

According to the parenting expert, the second reason for hyperactivity in kids includes consumption of too much stimulating content on screen or playing a lot of stimulating video games just a few hours before bedtime.

According to the parenting expert, if the child feels that he or she is lacking the attention from the mother because a sibling has been just born or a sibling is taking away the attention, this can also lead to hyperactivity.

There's a lot children learn from their parents. They observe, therefore they can also retain certain traits. That said, Riri Trivedi notes that a hyperactive parent can pass on the behaviour to their child too.

"If one of the parents, particularly the mom, is very hyper-anxious or a very hyper-vigilant mom, then that also passes on the anxiety to the child," says Trivedi.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, but according to Trivedi, all work and no play can make a child a hyperactive kid.

She explains that if the child's day is full of 'structured activity' including school, tuition, etc., but there is no 'unstructured play time,' it can again make the child fidgety, restless and inattentive.

It is not easy to 'fix' a trait, without understanding the cause of the condition. Therefore, Trivedi advises to understand the reasons behind the problem, before attempting to 'fix' it.

In the caption of the post, Riri further notes, "What I have NOT included is that if there is high trauma in developmental years - esp physical abuse, domestic violence or other point from #adversechildhoodexperiences questionnaire, there is a likelihood of the child developing ADHD type of behaviour - hyper activity can be the hyper arousal state that child remains in, due to chronic stress in the environment or child’s body."

"First understand the cause and then address it!" she adds.