How do you entertain a hyperactive child? Certainly not by floating casually down the lazy river at a water park. What should have been relaxing was like a tidal wave. Instead of drifting, our double rider inner tube was bouncing and turning the entire time. The reason for the brief tsunami? My son was jumping off and onto the tube and diving underneath.

If you have a hyperactive child or have worked with hyper children, you know that dealing with them can be exhausting. Information that I have read indicates that structured activities help keep hyper children on track. One article stated that, “many overactive children do not use free time productively”. What is the solution?

Finding appropriate after-school or summer activities for an overactive child is a must. For my son the choice was easy…football. The challenge is finding something for him to participate in until the football season begins.

Babycenter.com lists activities for children with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyper Activity Disorder). Karate/Tae Kwon Do was at the top of the list. The benefit of these activities is that they “require intense mental and physical involvement so they tap into your child’s need to immerse himself in an activity.”

Other activities that can benefit a child with ADHD include: scouting, team sports, drama and swimming. Scouting provides physical stimulation as well as other elements that help your child to focus. In addition to being highly physical, team sports offer the child a chance to learn social skills.

Swimming and drama both provide an outlet for the child with ADHD. Swimming requires concentration and can satisfy your child’s need for physical activity. If your child likes to work with his hands he might enjoy model building, woodworking or mechanical activities. According to Babycenter.com “building models or making things out of wood or metal will help your child learn to turn his ideas into concrete reality.”

Creativity expressed through music and art is yet another avenue for your child. The process that a child goes through with these activities is more important than the end result. The hyperactive child is known to be creative and bright, but their intellect and curiosity need to be nurtured properly. However, a hyperactive child can also help parents learn a few lessons.

According to Helium.com, “a hyperactive child can help improve parenting skills and create a new perspective on what it takes to be a good parent. If this statement is true, then maybe there is hope for me. Perhaps the next step is Parent of the Year.

How are you keeping your child engaged this summer? Check out your local parks and recreation department for a schedule of programs that will benefit the hyperactive child — as well as the entire family.

Floating down the lazy river CAN be relaxing; the key is to choose the single rider inner tube rather than the double.

Angela Verges is a writer and mother of two. She can be reached at awritersdream41@yahoo.com.