Over-Active Behaviour

Abstract

The over-active pupil constitutes one of the biggest problems a teacher can face. Fortunately, behaviour of this kind is relatively rare and research tells us that it diminishes with age. Children who present this problem have been named variously hyperactive, hyperkinetic or inconsequential. Because of the fact that medical reasons are sometimes thought to account for the behaviour, further names such as brain damage or minimal cerebral dysfunction have been given. Organic reasons for the behaviour, however, are not often put forward because there are a number of other possible causes. These in brief can be listed as follows and it must be borne in mind that no one set of factors is exclusive of any other set.