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4 year old bouncing off the walls help
Posted by amybyrd21 • 8/13/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: adhd, child, crack, Help
Ok my 4 year old son was thought to have ADHA but we refused the meds for him. We have no problem with him being rowdy 90% of the time and he is home schooled so we deal with it. But today he is bouncing off the walls (My step daughter says he is on crack) and I cant get him to settle down. Any one have any ideas? How do you make a child unwind and calm down?
User Comments
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I would do the meds.-
I would too. And maybe even give some to the boy.
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propose an activity that requires standing still and taking instruction...something like helping you cook? -
is there any demolition job around. Something not so dangerous even for the kid. Like breaking the old dog house? Let him do it.
Get him a punching bag. I have this feeling. We have another Md Ali in making. -
I make my son exercise if he is overly hyper. Jumping jacks, sprints, push ups, etc. He likes it, he's into sports and stuff so if I say do 50 jumping jacks he immediately will. Then once some energy is burned of I try to find some activity.
My son is 9 though but this has worked for several years.
Good luck.
Diane -
get him outside and let him run and jump and use that energy -
If you think it's hard on you, imagine what it is like for him? Speaking as a Mom and Grandma, I recommend the following:
1. Scoop him up and go outside to a playground where he can burn off that energy. If no playground is nearby, it's up to you to pretend you are four again and get him involved in a pillow fight, coloring, dancing to music .. anything that will allow him to engage both body and mind.
2. Check his diet .. are there lots of salts and sugars? Get rid of them. Pronto. A child's body simply cannot process those things properly. Replace them with fun things like apple slices or other fresh fruit. No honey, though.
3. Whatever choice you make will have a lasting impression on this child's life. Forget your TV, book, business, whatever. Give him your undivided attention when he gets hyperactive. Then relax him with a nice warm bubble bath. He will go right to sleep.
4. Take him to a pediatrician to rule out any physical abnormality. If the doctor recommends meds, GET A SECOND OPINION. You might consider taking him to a local university hospital .. the best and brightest practice there and know the latest in medical research.
5. Children will feed off of your tension and anxiety, so find better ways to cope with your stress. Laugh often. Besides, you'll probably miss this when he is a teenager :] -
hitch 'em up to the plow...give the horse a break
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Does he do sugar, chips, all the stuff they say not to do? I would cut that out go veggie. My husband has ADD and my brother ADHD I know it sounds crazy give the kid coffee of the morning wiki.answers.com/Q/What_does_caffeine_do_to_an_ADHD_child
It makes my husband and brother sleepy. -
I have a 4 year old. This is right up my alley. I find a couple of things that work, besides medicating myself that work.
1) Do a story time. In the middle of the day. Pull him aside and read a story
2) Take them on a Bug Hunt. Get some jars, go out in the yard. Make a big production out of going to look for bugs
3) No sugar. Seriously. Finish this thought. Sugar is to tots as ..vicodin is to kids. First 20 minutes.. happy happy. Next 20 minutes. Weeping, tantrums and calling old boyfriends. No sugar
4) Go on line.. NickJr.com.. a lot of computer games they can play by themselves. You can usually get 30 minutes out of that before they click off the page and bring up Webmd by mistake.
Thats all I got... gotta run. My kid is trying to shave the fish. -
Hi Amy ... there might be some useful information under our "Have Kids" category on my "And You Will" blog .. here's a quick summary to all of the author's posts in one easy view..
andyouwill.com/author/vamomma/ -
I'm adult ADHD - and have lived through this.
Keep the mind occupied - get something he hyperfocuses on easily.
Legos - artistic things - building things...
Give him something he can take apart and see if he can rebuild it.
You'd be surprised even at 4...
Old toasters - Vacuum cleaners - radios - clocks...
ADHD means INQUISITIVE into how things work - WHY things work...
Go to a junk yard and let HIM pick out what he wants to take apart...
And give him a small spot - BLOCK ELECTRICAL outlets so he doesn't plug anything in --- CHILD PROOF THE AREA - but let him take it apart...
You may have a little mess to clean up afterwards - but you can teach and reward with how he learns to stay organized.
Have separate buckets to put the screws and small pieces in.
This is AN excellent way to start teaching ORGANIZATION - and letting his imagination SOAR!
At 4 I was taking apart radios, car parts and things...
Trust me...
My mom then got me into separating beads and bead types - or shells and things like that.
Kept me busy for HOURS...
As to the coffee and no sugar thing - that is totally right on.
Ritalin makes me sleepy and eat everything in the house.
SO there is a possibility that what you give to him may affect him - I'm totally sensitive to foods - so be aware - watch and chronicle his reactions.
Medication is bad for the body - but it helps in school and social situations for those of us who can function properly.
I know ADHD is bad...
It makes you want to run the child over with the truck and then back up over them again and again... At least in your mind.
The only thing I can say - is ask him what he wants to do - and try to do it.
If they can't think of things to do - start with separating tasks that interest... Then taking apart things that interest.
Or put butcher paper up on the walls and give him crayons to color the walls any way he wants to...
Luck and patience to you.
Parents like you - well - they are the ones who make us into who we are today - so bear with us as we grow - we need you. -
Is he on any (other) medication already? -
Green Time outside..exercise...look into this company: Sanesco.net
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