How do you handle a "difficult" child?

Question

Who might have ADHD. I've never been around any adult or children with it and don't even know if it could be diagnosed in a child who is about to turn 3. But a little boy I have been babysitting now for 4 weeks cannot follow the simplest directions, cannot sit still, cannot stay on task, and feels he must be moving every second he is awake. I have 2 small kids of my own plus I also babysit his 7 month old brother and a 16 month old boy. If I tell him to go get the diaper bag over there on the table (pointing to it) he spins around the room in circles as if he doesn't know what a table or a diaper bag is. If I tell him to please stop running around the room, ramming a toy into the wall or sit still he will stop but as soon as I turn my back he's doing the same thing again. I have tried activity time on the floor with him but nothing keeps his attention for more than 15 seconds. He constantly is on the move and it's getting difficult to handle him when I have to tell him...

...200 times a day to stop doing so and so. If we are having quiet/rest time which I do a couple of times during the day just to let him chill out I'll tell everyone to sit down and watch tv he'll go to the chair, sit for 20 seconds, then get out to go find a toy or run around. I swear today I had to tell him 10 times within 5 minutes to please sit down and be still. Even activity toys or books don't do it for him. 50% of my time is spent on him, but I have 4 and 5 other kids (1 baby) to deal with. He is always on the move. Any advice? And yes, I am watching the kids right now in my living room with the laptop in my lap so I'm not ignoring them, neglecting them or having them run around :)

Answer 1

have his parents had him evaluated? he may have more problems than just adhd. Talk to the parents about your concerns, and see if they can get him evaluated by his doctor. At three, he is too young for mediction, but hemay benefit from behavioral therapy. There are lots of state resources they can get help from too. Good luck!!

Answer 2

Not only could this child have ADHD but he may also be autistic. Autism doesnt have to have any obvious signs and can manifest itself in many different ways.

Next time your with the child in question line up a series of activities. It may be useful to maybe spend some time with him alone to achieve the best results. Line up a range of activities that reange from simple comprehension to scientific activites outside. use this method of trial and error and see what grabs his attention. I f as you say, he cant concentrate for more than 15 seconds, let him have breaks for 5 or 6 secs between activities but bring his attention straight back to what you were doing.

always engage him by asking him what he thinks about what you are doing and when he drifts away, what he is looking at.

if this fails involvew his parents. looking after such a child is a constant task.

it may also be troubles in the home. what happens behind closed doors can affect children adversly, without and obvious signs of emotional neglect.

Hearing problems can also cause a child to appear naughty. he may just not be able to hear you all that well, so get that checked out

he is also hitting a mischeivous stage with boys so maybe there is no underlying 'problem' just that he is terrible toddler, whos a little on the naughty side or he is just plain bored.

Hope this helps
From Chickmysert

Answer 3

It's not just ADHD that is the problem, most boys at that age do this. My 4 year old can not keep his hands off of things. For the quiet time you need, make a routine, put him down at the same time every day. If possible do not let him watch too much T.V. It's one of the worst things for kids with ADHD. I know this sounds odd, but try giving him a soda, for some reason it has the opposite effect on kids ho have that. It should make him tired. Also try time outs, put him on the couch with you so he can't play with anything. GOOD LUCK!

Answer 4

Look like you have a handle full!! Try focusing on the things that he likes to do. If you think that he might be ADHD talk to the boys parents, to see if they can take the boy to the doc. or what they do to help calm them down. You could always try American Sign Language. It is very visual and most kids love it. Start with colors, animals, mom, dad (stuff that is simple). Signing books are easy to find... Good luck. If you need to more info about Sign you can ask me any time ([e-mail]) I Love sign laguage and have been doing it for 4 years now....Again Good Luck

Answer 5

Hi :)
I have a particularly difficult 3 year old, and his father was the same way (still is sometimes). Here's how we handle it (and some advice from my pediatrician). He cannot be diagnosed until he is in school - and it is affecting his education. For now, we try to provide activities for him that help him channel his energy positively. I work with him daily on focus activities (coloring, reading, etc) He enjoys watching movies, we try to keep that to a minimum. He tends to get upset very easily when being disciplined - so when he does that I love and snuggle him lots :) He needs lots of love and attention. Kids don't differentiate between negative and positive attention at that age - it's all attention. My doctor told me to put on my running shoes :) Here's my advice from my husband's point of view (having gone through this as a child) is don't lable him as ADHD. Even when he gets into school - monitor him closely, and help him in any way you can with special classes, tutors, etc. Try not to medicate him unless you have to - and if you must, monitor it very closely (my husband said his meds made him crazy as a kid, so he'd hide his meds so he didn't have to take them) So listen to him :)
We also had to take EVERYTHING out of his room. His bedroom is a bed only. It makes his rest more effective, and he doesn't want to play all night.
It is almost impossible for us to sit through church - but we try anyway :) Slowly make progress!
If you have any questions or need advice - or even an ear, someone to vent to, please feel welcome to email me at [e-mail]

Answer 6

yes he can be treated. I know someone who is 2 and gets meds for adhd. The best thing you can do is find something he may like all children have a sort of hobbie and if u find his he will sit still. If you remember the movie the fast and the furious the one boy who designed the cars on the computer said designing kept him calm. i would seriously talk to his parents to see if they cant get him in to c the doctor

Answer 7

i have a daughter with ADHD and that does sound like her but at such a young age it could be that his parents dont teach him better. the way i could really tell it was a problem is my daughter had no fear, like she didnt think things through, couldnt sit still and when we would get onto her she had such a blank look on her face as if she really didnt know what she did wrong. usually they wont diagnose a child that young. they didnt my daughter until she was 8 years old. she was having alot of trouble in school... there are websites that you can look under though and they give you tips on how to handle them and you could always look and try some of them and see if it helps...just maile me if you need the websites and wanna try it!! good luck

Answer 8

How does he do with activity DVD's? Like dance-along or excersie DVD's? It would give him a physical outlet. Also take all the sugar and caffiene out of his diet...no fruit juice or sugar snacks...water and milk to drink...this really helped my friend with her active 3 yr old. Don't be ready to label ADHD!! He has too much energy and doesn't know what to do with it...just chanel it into a physical activity...good luck.

Answer 9

It could be that he is just a spoiled brat at home that is permitted to do whatever he wants. I would talk to the parents about it. Most kids do not have ADHD and people are just to quick to label a child as such. Most doctors dont even diagnose it correctly.

Answer 10

CHILDREN are going to do mischief.
TRY to IGNORE
this way the CHILD will try to draw less attention