Question
My 8-year-old son in second grade has been frequently fidgeting with his fingers, which has affected his attention in class and his unstable academic performance. How should I handle this behavior?
Answer
Eight-year-olds are still developing physically and mentally, lacking self-discipline. They are often extroverted, lively, and active, which is typical. If a child’s recent classroom fidgeting (such as finger twirling) has affected their attention, parents can patiently communicate with their child to understand their thoughts and teach them about right and wrong behaviors. For a child’s minor mistakes, parents should not overly criticize them to avoid reinforcing bad behavior. Parents can adjust their parenting methods according to their child’s personality and psychological endurance. For younger children, parents can appropriately use mild physical punishment as a supplement to education, but be careful not to harm the child and focus on education. Child education is a profound subject that requires parents to invest a great deal of love and patience. Simple, harsh criticism and punishment are unconstructive and may have the opposite effect. If many measures have been taken but the situation remains unchanged, and the child is accompanied by difficulty concentrating, parents should consider whether the child has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), and seek consultation from a pediatric psychology department at a provincial or higher level psychiatric hospital.