The doctor named ways to combat the hyperactivity of first graders

Many parents worry: will their first-grader be able to withstand the lessons and master the learning material? This concern is justified, because young children often cannot sit still for a long time. However, the problem may lie not only in their natural activity, but also in a lack of skills such as perseverance. Ekaterina Morozova, senior pediatrician at JSC "Medicine" (Academician Roitberg Clinic), PhD, told Izvestia about this on August 13.

It is not uncommon to encounter a condition called "hyperactivity," which is sometimes accompanied by attention deficit disorder. This neurological disorder makes it difficult to concentrate on one activity for more than 20-25 minutes.

"If you notice that it is difficult for your child to sit still and do one thing, be sure to contact a pediatric neurologist. It is important to remember that hyperactivity requires attention, but with the right approach, you can help the child," the doctor warned.

Nevertheless, even in children without such problems, perseverance does not appear by itself. This habit should be formed over the years, starting from an early age, the therapist added. And parents should take on the main role in this process — children with whom they study at home from an early age are more easily involved in the educational process. An easy way to develop perseverance is through games aimed at developing fine motor skills. For example, assembling puzzles, playing with construction kits, drawing or modeling help children concentrate and teach them to sit still.

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"A study by the University of Pennsylvania found that the development of attention and perseverance skills in children under the age of five directly affects their academic performance in elementary school. This increases children's self-esteem, reduces stress, and allows them to adapt to the learning process faster. And for those who are not prepared, the first academic years can be a serious challenge," Morozova said.

In addition, the study found that children who actively develop fine motor skills, for example, through drawing and modeling, demonstrate the best indicators of perseverance and concentration in the classroom. The researchers emphasize that it is precisely such simple activities that help children prepare for school and perceive the learning process more easily.

According to the expert, there are suitable activities for each age that will help in the formation of perseverance. At one year old, the child already has both hands, so he can put molds into one another, string pyramid rings on a rod, draw with polychrome pencils, then switch to puzzles, construction kits and mosaics at the age of two or three. By the age of four, a child will already be interested in didactic games such as mazes, finding differences, or searching for objects in a picture. At an older age, activities that require painstaking work come to the rescue: modeling, creating handicrafts from wood, weaving or drawing in the sand, playing chess, and various board games.

Thus, regular classes will help the child to adapt to the school system and perceive the learning process more easily. The main task of parents is not only to enable children to develop their abilities, but also to help them develop important skills such as perseverance, attentiveness, and concentration.

On April 15, the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation approved standards for homework completion for elementary school students. It was noted that students should spend one hour on homework in the first grade, one and a half hours in the second and third grades, and two hours in the fourth grade.

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