Key Verse: 24 – “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes."
Key Words: he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes
Does your child fidget with his or her hands and feet? ...squirm when seated? ...daydream a lot? Are they impatient, not willing to wait their turn in group situations? Does your child have a hard time following through on instructions? Do they talk excessively? Does your child engage in dangerous activities without considering the consequences?
If your child displays over half of the above symptoms and you carried them in for a professional evaluation, they would be diagnosed as ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). They would be prescribed some medication, probably Ritalin; and the medication would certainly calm them down. But may I offer another solution? It involves four steps and it will take your time and effort, but it will provide a solution outside of medicine.
Step One: Pray with your child daily. Pray for calmness and Christ-likeness in both yourself and your child. Remember this must be done daily and early in the morning before the child leaves for school.
Step Two: Structure! Structure is a necessity for success.
a. Have planned play time.
b. Meals planned – both food and time.
c. Controlled free time. (That’s when you allow your child to play freely, but keep them in eyesight.)
We have found that most high-spirited children cause very few problems in a highly structured environment where the parent keeps things moving.
Step Three: Re-focus. The high-spirited child will become demanding and pitch a fit on occasions. At that point, re-focus their attention by taking them for a walk or out to swing, but try re-focusing.
Step Four: Consistent discipline and I do mean consistent! No threats, no “I’ll spank you next time.” Lay the boundaries out and stick to them. All discipline should be done out of love, never out of anger.
Now these steps will take more time and effort than medication will, but in the end your child will love you rather than be addicted to medicine.
What to do:
✞ Apply the above-mentioned steps.
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