Patient's question:
My son is 8 years old and in second grade. Recently, he has been twisting his fingers and has difficulty concentrating in class, resulting in unstable grades. I don't know what the reason is. Please advise.Doctor's answer:
8-year-old children, due to their incomplete physical and mental development, lack of self-discipline, and some being extroverted and more active, are common. If, in recent weeks, specific small actions in class (such as fidgeting) have affected their attention, it is advisable to communicate patiently and thoroughly with the child, listen to his thoughts, and explain what is right and what is wrong, telling him that there must be certain standardized behaviors in class.Sometimes, we should not repeatedly criticize small mistakes made by children. For issues that have already been repeatedly addressed, it may be helpful to tone down the emphasis to avoid reinforcing such negative behavior. Of course, the balance of this approach should be adjusted based on the child's personality and psychological tolerance.
When children are younger, appropriate and measured physical discipline can be used as an auxiliary educational tool to reinforce memory, but it is important to ensure that the child is not harmed and that the focus remains on education.
Child education is a very profound field, especially requiring parents to invest immense love and patience. Simple, harsh criticism or punishment is meaningless and can only backfire.
If multiple measures have been taken but the situation has not improved, and the child also struggles with difficulty concentrating, it may be necessary to consider whether there is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or attention deficit disorder (ADD). In such cases, it is recommended to consult a child psychology department in a mental health hospital at the provincial level or higher.