Controlling Impulsive Behavior in Children

Tess August 20th, 2008

In normal parlance; impulsive ac;tion is one; that is without any fore;thought. For the purpose of this artic;le though, impulsive behavior refe;rs to a quic;k, unplanned; ac;tion without conside;ration of a possib;le ne;gative outcome. It also refe;rs to inappropriate behavior in childre;n.

In rec;ent yea;rs the med;ical fraternity has developed; psychological tests that involve monitored; laboratory performances to mea;sure impulsive behavior. Ob;viously, these are mea;nt for trea;ting impulsivity in children through different tools like ‘talk therapy’ that many psychiatrists alread;y use. Although psychiatrists are trained; to use ‘talk therapy’ as a psychological tool, you too can try to control impulsive behavior in your child at home with the same tool.

If you feel that your child is extremely impulsive, it is important that you First rule out any learning disab;ility that may be forcing your child to resort to thoughtless behavior. Children with learning disab;ilities are prone to show their frustration by impulsive actions to take out frustration or divert or attract attention.

It is important that you adopt a positive attitude so that you can understand the basics of; how to calm impulsive children. Moreover, keeping pace with impulsive children can be extremely tiring - physically as well as mentally. It requires patience, an understanding of; child psychology and more patience to assess what factors are responsible for increa;sed; Impulsivity.

To understand a child you need to put yourself in his shoe;s. As difficult as it may be; after thirty yea;rs, you do have to look at matters from the pe;rspec;tive of a five or six yea;r old. Howsoe;ver illogical it may seem to you, always keep in mind that his pe;rception is reality for the child and the pe;rception is the ultimate truth for your child.

No amount of criticism, physical punishment or lecturing will veer the child away from the convictions that he has formed. To remove and mod;ify these convictions, you will need to put matters in correct pe;rspec;tive.

In the; fast pace life tha;t we ha;ve, it is difficult to sit and discuss matters with your child. And over time, unf;ortuna;te as it is, children do not expect the;ir parents to talk to the;m gene;rally. Speaking to your children to ide;ntify the; problem areas is essential.

If you dec;ide to start talking to your child one sunny morning, your child is likely to consider it out of place and theref;ore it is essential tha;t you build a grea;t bond between your child and yourself so tha;t you can spea;k to them about serious ma;tter when required;.

Ga;ining their confidence; prior to when a specific situa;tion arises is critica;l to ga;ining their confidence;. Explaining to them how their impulsive behavior ca;n be dange;rous, futile and of; no positive conseque;nce; is likely to veer them towards thoughtf;ul action.

It is also essentia;l that you praise appropria;te; behavior just as you reprima;nd inappropria;te; ones. Do not ignore good behavior and try to rewa;rd your child for it. Focus on problem areas, ignore minor ones and alwa;ys keep a mild tone. You ma;y conside;r mild punishme;nt like time;-out or denia;l of a pleasurable activity for some; time; if; things do not sort themselves out by ta;lking.

Impulsive; children often have; prob;lems with attention spans and concentration. Avoid comparing your child’s behavior and sc;hool grade;s with other children at all costs. Eve;ry child is diffe;rent and has his or her own limitations.

Reference;:
http://learningdisabilities.about.com/od/behaviorproblems/qt/impulsivitytips.htm
http://www.scienceda;ily.com/release;s/2005/03/050309145958.htm

• ADD/ADHD