Hyper Child - Clovis,CA

He is an over active kids. There are some like those that are high spirited and it has nothing to do with ADHD. Find an activity to keep him occupied that will give him focus and discipline. Give him some chores.

My son is 7, and he's been on medication for 2 years for ADHD. I really don't think it helps them by not putting them on meds. it's not their fault that they can't control themselves, it's a chemical in their brain.yes, it can take a bit to find the right med and dose, but once u do, they can thrive. School will make more sense and making friends will be easier. They don't want to be labeled ' the naughty kid', our be yelled at all the time. Good luck mama!

Don't be afraid of an ADHD diagnosis, if one is coming your way. Our son was just like yours and finding out what was going on was critical to getting him the necessary help. Our son's behavior problems eventually got him kicked out of preschool. Medication isn't evil ... it has allowed our son to thrive in school and blend in with the other kids. He's nine now and doing great on a medication called Concerta. We've also done parenting classes and behavioral therapy. We're also doing neurofeedback.

Don't try to treat your son with natural food store products until you've consulted a doctor. You want to know what you're putting in your child's body and supplements aren't regulated. We give our son melatonin to help him fall asleep and I can tell you the dosage varies a whole lot by each brand because they're made differently. We are giving melatonin under direction from our son's psychiatrist.

Best of luck to you! I hope you're able to find a strategy that helps your son.

Change his diet first and see if that makes a difference. Most foods have refined sugar and dyes in them that will affect a persons behavior. Also look into what foods turn into sugar after they are eaten (like white bread).

There are also different kinds of herbal/homeopathic calming drops for children that are sold in the health food stores.

My son is in the process of being diagnosed/evaluated/etc. ADHD is a possibility. From the moment he could move he has never slowed down. School was when it really became a problem. Prior to that, we just did a LOT. If you're keeping him inside because it's hard to take him out - that may be making it worse :(. We lived in Hawaii until my son was 3 1/2...we were at the beach 3x a week, hiking a couple times a week, exploring lava tubes....etc. We were outside a ton and even tho' he was like a ping pong ball...the outside space and the moving around was great for him. IAfter that we lived on a large piece of property in the continental US for about 6 months where he was constantly exploring...constantly GOING and constantly DOING. Looking back, I probably should have done more to prepare him for longer stretches of sitting still or being in large groups, etc. I don't know - those are two things that he really struggles with now. Hindsight is always 20/20. We had a blast tho'. He LOVED it...I was extremely strict (he was not my only child and from a safety standpoint, we could not do what we were doing had I had to worry about him running off or anything). He learned to be obedient because our days stuck at home because he wasn't...were not nearly as fun. If he did not come when called or ran off, we were in the car ASAP. Like I said, we're still in the diagnosis process...there are a lot of other things involved (severe anxiety, possible sensory processing disorder...)...but those are some of my thoughts. It took a lot of energy...but a lot less energy than some of the alternatives. That being said...I'm not terrible opposed to medication...I would definitely make sure you've ruled out anything else first as it does seem (again, my limited knowledge, mostly acquired from other people or google)...anyway, it seems that sometimes other things can have the same symptoms as ADHD.

I agree w/what others have said: consistency is! It will really help your son to kow the routine, schedule, expectations & consequneces. Get in touch w/a behavioralist (your local school district may have one) so you can work w/them on his behavior. You can also contact your school district about gettigng him asseseed. This way, you are not paying for any of it & they will continue to provide the sevices he needs once he's in K. Once the assessemnt is final, talk w/the assessment staff about your concerns over drugs & ask for alternative options & only put him on meds if it's been prescribed by a doctor. I understand your concerns batou meds, I have htem, too. before having our 2 boys, (one how has a slight learning difference & we'll probably assess again for ADD) I worked w'kids w/disabilities. One little boy in particular was medicated for hyperactivity & it made a world of difference! I have another friend who's son has ADD & she only medicates him during school hours so at home & on weekends, he's unmedicated which is working OK for them but the key to success w/a lot of meds is to keep a constant stream of it in your body. You'll have to wait & see what is suggested & what will work best fory your son. You may find that you need to try a few different meds & doses before you get the right one. Just remember, it's about what works best for your son. And if being on meds makes him more managable & he feels in control of himself, that you may need to medicate. Best of luck!

My 4 year old son is very much like this. He is constantly in motion and has a very hard time paying attention. He is either hyperfocused (so engrossed in something he has no idea what is going on around him) or hypofocused (can't concentrate on anything even as simple as washing his hands). He has been like this since he was born - no naps, couldn't sit still, etc. He has SPD and is a high sensory seeker, but just knowing that doesn't fix it.

A few things that we do:

He uses a fidget and a chew toy to help his body/hands keep moving while trying to let his mind focus. Even reading a book was an aerobic activity as he jumped around, changed places, looked at other books, etc. Now he can focus a bit more on the one story at the one time.

Only tell him one or two directions at a time (like get your shoes and put them on) instead of a bunch of actions (get your shoes, put them on, find your jacket, grab your lunch and go out the door). Set him up for success - e.g. don't send him into his room where a bunch of toys are laying about and expect him to find his shoes without stopping to play first.

Routine, routine, routine. Bedtime can be so bad, especially after a whole day of not listening or bouncy behavior. By sticking to the same order every night - 3 stories, jammies, potty, brush teeth, good nights, calendar, get in bed - even when he gets off track, he can understand what should come next.

Lots of physical play! I know it can seem daunting, and even an entire day of activity won't wear him out sometimes, but just keep doing it. Walk instead of driving places if you can. It's no big deal to ask your son to walk a mile with you - we go to lunch, parks, pools, shops, etc. that are distances like that. It also fills part of our day and let's us have quality time together. It's not a punishment! Have him carry things in the house like laundry, or some groceries home from the store or just sweep the floor. Mine just got back from riding his bike to the park and playing on the playground, even though it is cold out. He is also going to a play gym after lunch and a birthday party later. I still expect him to be going strong this evening!

Tell him repeatedly what is happening/going to happen throughout the day. Build expectations and work with him to make them a reality.

Build in special quiet time during the day. This can be impossible(!) but keep with it. Praise him when he is calm and focused and end when he becomes too hyper again. We can often build legos or blocks, play trains or color for a bit before he's just gotta go again.

These don't solve all of our issues and I don't think they will in the future, either. We'll need to add more things to our "tool box" as he grows and as new things are appropriate and other things no longer work. We may end up medicating at some point but our choice will always be what is best for him.

I'm a teacher and once had a student tell me after he got on med's that it was like his body would do what he told it too. There shouldn't be shame in needing something to help. It's just like a person with asthma needing an inhaler.

Usually ADHD overlaps w/ some sensory issues. Does he have sensory integration issues? If so, occupational therapy is wonderful.

**See the book: "The Out of Sync Child" to read about sensory intergration dysfunction. ADHD is mentioned, too.

Do a search on the Feingold diet, as well.

Fish oil is supposed to help... Go to a health food store.
Do you have a health store near you w/ educated employees? We have a health store near us w/ holistic nutritionists that are extremely helpful when someone wants to take the natural path.