The Boy Who Could Not Sit Still – what this story teaches, the signs and what to do
From the book – Chapter 12: Child, Teen and Adult Mental Health
The Boy Who Could Not Sit Still
Aryan, nine, studies in a busy school in Ahmedabad. He cannot stay in his seat, forgets his homework, blurts out answers and loses his things. His teacher calls him naughty, and his classmates avoid him after he pushed a boy in frustration. At home, his father shouts and his mother cries.
Aryan, however, is also kind. He feeds the street dog every morning and knows the names of all the birds on the balcony. He tells his grandmother, "I try to listen, but my head is too noisy. Everyone is angry with me." He has started saying he is stupid.
What this story explains
This story shows child mental health issues such as attention difficulties, and the role of family and school in understanding behaviour as a sign of need.
How to recognise it
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Constant restlessness, poor attention and impulsive behaviour in more than one setting, such as home and school.
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Frequent trouble, scolding and falling self-esteem.
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Lasting for months, not just on bad days.
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Underlying kindness and strengths that adults overlook.
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Possible other causes to check, such as hearing, vision, learning or anxiety problems.
What to do
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Look beyond the behaviour and ask what the child might be struggling with.
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Arrange a health and developmental check with a paediatrician.
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Work with the teacher on a joint plan with clear routines and short tasks.
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Give instructions one at a time and praise good behaviour immediately.
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Provide daily physical play and a regular sleep time.
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Keep a calm, consistent approach at home.
Do and don’t
| Do | Don’t |
|---|---|
| Notice and praise effort. | Do not label him 'bad' or 'stupid'. |
| Use clear, simple instructions. | Do not punish for things he cannot control. |
| Keep routines predictable. | Do not compare with siblings. |
| Work as a team with the school. | Do not shout or hit. |
| Encourage his strengths. | Do not ignore the school's concerns. |
Read the full chapter – Chapter 12: Child, Teen and Adult Mental Health
Stories from real life
- Sofia and the Glow of the Screen – Sofia, fifteen, lives in Johannesburg. She was a cheerful girl, but since moving to a new school she spends hours online comparing herself to girls who…
- Neha Stops Saying Yes – Neha, thirty-eight, is a project manager in Bengaluru and mother of two. Her day starts at five and ends at midnight: office calls, school lunches, in-laws'…
- Mr Iyer Forgets the Way Home – Mr Iyer, seventy-eight, a retired teacher in Chennai, took the same walk to the temple every morning for forty years. Last month he lost his way…
- Little Zara Learns to Wait – Zara is three and lives in Nairobi with her mother Wanjiru, who returned to work a month ago. Zara used to be sunny, but now she…
More on this topic: Children, teenagers and parents – mental health at home and school
More questions
- Sofia and the Glow of the Screen – what this story teaches, the signs and what to do
- Neha Stops Saying Yes – what this story teaches, the signs and what to do
- Mr Iyer Forgets the Way Home – what this story teaches, the signs and what to do
- Little Zara Learns to Wait – what this story teaches, the signs and what to do
- What can we learn from the story “Ramesh, Age 68”?
- Understanding mental health across the lifespan
- Child mental health (roughly up to age 12) – explained simply
- Common mental-health issues – child mental health (roughly up to age 12)
- Role of family and school – child mental health (roughly up to age 12)
- Adolescent mental health (roughly ages 13–19) – explained simply
- Baby blues or postpartum depression?