How do I find bootcamp for 8 yr. old child?

Question

I have been raising my son by myself since the day he was born, so it has been hard raising him with the problems that he has. He has ADHD and ODD and he is out of control. The medications he is on do not work and the state is trying to take him from me, so i want to beat them to the puch and find a military school, boarding school, or boot camp that can help him. I am not a bad parent they just don't understand that it is hard raising him on my own with no help and they have a team at school and they still complain about how hard it is to have control of him. I really need help if anyone has any good ideas. Thanks.

Answer 1

I can't tell you which is worse, the ADHD or the meds to treat it! An age old remedy for hyperactivity is black coffee. When my son gets wound up, I give him a stiff cup of joe and I am always amazed at the calm that comes over him. Peace

Answer 2

My nephew has ADHD, Dyslexia, and Audio-Visual retention disorder ( or something like that). I know what you mean about controlling him. He was awful when he was younger. He was on Ritalin, and stuff like that. Worked a little but killed his appetite and made him sick and weak. He's on a non-steroid one now. He's doing much better. He's 14 now and for the first time in his life is getting A's and B's. I am so proud of him. Granted he grew up with two parents ( and my brother is a good disciplinarian).You could call DSS and ask them about military schools. I don't think boot camp is the answer, he's not acting out on purpose. Boot camp is for "bad" kids, with emotional problems. Your soon has neurological disorders. A private school ( even boarding) might work because they can specialize his classes. Every state has an education board, I would get in contact with them. Good Luck

Answer 3

Raising a child alone is quite a challenge. Raising a child with problems has got to be nearly impossible.
An 8 year old with oppositional defiant disorder will not be cured by bootcamp. The behavior will return when he returns home. You cannot change him. The only thing you can change is yourself. So stop trying to change him and see what You can do differently. When you change your actions, your child will change his response.
Do you tell him what he should be doing? Try asking instead.
Do you yell at him? Try ignoring instead.
Do you give him things or bribe him to get his cooperation? Try taking things away.
Do you take away privileges? Try giving him things for appropriate behavior.
What I mean is, look at what you are doing and do something different. Are you mean? Be kind. Are you kind? Be mean.

Plan time with him every day. Schedule time to shoot baskets at the park. Take him bowling, fishing, swimming. Rather than tell him what to do, just BE with him. Listen to what he says. Try not to respond except to say "Oh." or "Hmm."
Most children are starved for TIME with the significant adults in
their life. I know a single parent doesn't have much time, but time with your child is the best investment you will ever make.

ALSO, many childen who have developed ODD have not learned the social skills that they will need to replace the defiant behavior. You will have to gently teach him appropriate responses to life's difficulties as his behavior improves.

Read Your Defiant Child: Eight Steps to Better Behavior by Russell A. Barkley, Christine M. Benton

Answer 4

hmmm. therapy or military school, i might suggest. what's ODD? maybe you should try taking him off of the drugs. have you conversed with the doc. about the fact that they don't work? maybe he's not on the right thing. military school might be good. it's very structured and teaches discipline. that kind of structure would probably be good for him. look some up and call. they will probably be happy to send you brochures. i don't think the state taking him away will do anything good for the situation you're describing, so act quickly.

and, yeah, i've heard of the coffee thing too. i had a friend with ADHD and he always said that drinking coffee had the opposite affect on him that you would expect.