For a child not on ADHD meds, what can be done to help with symptoms?

Question

I am not saying my son has ADHD, but he sure acts like it! How can I help him with his hyperactivity and impulsive behavior? I love his energetic spirit, but sometimes he just needs to chill out. What should I do? In the past I have resorted to TV time a bit too much and I am trying to get away from that.

Answer 1

Routine, routine, routine. One thing a child who is disorganized and impulsive needs is consistency. They need to know what is expected of them and that expectations as well as consequences are consistent. To help with redirection, you need to find an interest he can sort of be obsessive about. Get him into something that can keep his body active... baseball, soccer, football, swimming... that will help with the restlessness. The best consequence for impulsive behavior is natural consequences. If he makes a bad choice, allow the natural consequences to follow it.

Answer 2

I'm not sure what you are referring to when you say your son "acts like it." Can he sit still for a long period of time and concentrate on a project, like reading, drawing a picture, playing video games? If so, he doesn't have ADHD. I've had people mention that my son may need to be tested but there's no way he has it because he's not always bouncing off the walls. Sometimes it's when he has too much sugar, other times he's just excited and doesn't yet know how to control his emotions. Sometimes he's just bored. Little boys are more active in general and need a lot of play time where they can wrestle and be active, not stuck behind a desk all day and expected to be quiet and sit still. Kids are impulsive regardless of if they have ADHD. Let him burn off some extra energy every day by letting him play at the park, in the backyard, or taking up a sport after school. Also, watch his diet; don't allow a ton of starchy foods like white breads, pastas, and potatoes and serve more whole grains and complex carbs. Good luck.

Answer 3

I am interested in your question because my father and brother have ADHD and my son is a clone of my brother. My son is too young to be diagnosed but he can run circles around any other 2 year old. From what I have read exercise and breaking down tasks into small steps is the best way to deal with ADHD behaviorally. It was explained to me by a child psychiatrist I used to work with that they need external structure for their internal chaos. Makes sense because my brother thrived in the military and has been a Navy Seal for 12 years. And my Dad still plays baseball at the age of 62! So I think of my son's incredible energy as an asset. The key to fine-tuning my son's focus is to give him a running commentary on the day's events. He knows what we are doing now and next, no anxiety or loss of control. I also put him to work, he can't fold laundry but he can put clean bibs in the kitchen, he can help me unload the car by taking in stuff that's not heavy, he can help bring in the mail/newspaper, throw things in the trash etc. etc. I praise him to the skies for this. And we have physical activity before his nap and after his nap. And thank God for my son because he is a great weight loss program for me and my husband. Don't worry about the t.v., you have to eat and shower sometimes! You are doing the right thing by turning it off and getting him outside.

Answer 4

Find out what he is really in to, or interested in, or is good at and try to get him more involved in such things.

I have been a Preschool Teacher for three years, and have cringed when people label a child (I'm not saying you are) as ADHD just because the child is energetic, that he loses interest in things quickly, etc., - he's a child! Children are full of energy, children get bored easily, children are a handful, some more than others, but it is all normal and natural!

Sorry, it's just been sad and frustrating seeing parents... sorry.

Again, I am not try to tell you something you already know very well for yourself, and am insinuating anything towards you as a mother at all... just like I said, try to find something for your child to channel that energy towards, something he likes doing. Does he like a sport? Get him on a team. Is he good at something? Get him lessons in it, or items related to whatever it may be. Good job for you in wanting to steer him away from the TV, I give you a standing round of applause for that! You know, just ask him, ask him what he would like to do, and help him positively channel that energy into it.

Answer 5

I know there is a special way of eating that can control ADHD. I know it involves not eating any processed food, like frozen meals, fast foods, convenience foods like lunchables, anything that has a lot of preservatives. No caffeine, limited sugar, stuff like that. The book might be called THE ADD/ADHD SOLUTION or something to that effect. It's very difficult to not eat those kinds of processed foods, they are just so convenient and we have all gotten used to using them. But it is a doable solution, and it has worked for lots of kids. You are making the right decision in keeping your son off meds. My friend's son started those, they helped him to perform better at school, but some days he was like a zombie, especially in the mornings. He would just kind of be out of it, and I felt like it took away some of his spunk and spirit. Plus he lost weight and had to start drinking ensure twice a day in addition to his regular meals. And they've switched his meds a few times, one becomes less effective after awhile, so they move on to a different one, with each change he has to get used to new side effects. I truly believe that way too many kids are being put on these types of meds. Like the pre-school teacher said, they are eager to slap a label on your kids, and some parents are just as eager to find what is an easy solution for them to get their kids out of the hair and not have to deal with what is in some cases, normal energetic behavior. Good Luck to you and your son.

Answer 6

Find a soothing still activity that he really enjoys. For instance, playing piano, drawing, reading, coloring etc. A lot of times that can calm them because it is an activity that he enjoys and is not an active one that will get him hyped up. He could also help you with chores...depending on how old he is. A lot of times helping mom and/or dad keeps their spirits up because they know they are needed and can help. Go for walks and make them calm walks - no running. Get him to point out things that he sees.

Answer 7

"Being In Control : Natural Solutions For ADHD Dyslexia and Test Anxiety'.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9659025130/

Answer 8

help with hyperactivity--play with your kid
impulsive behavior--discipline your kid

i hate to be so blunt when answering on here b/c "we" never know the whole situation so it's hard to cut to the point...however, i do not put much value in the diagnosing of ADD and ADHD.
kids are hyper and energetic. some more than others, but that doesn't mean that there is something wrong with them. instead of "helping" to calm them down with meds etc, we as parents need to find the motivation to play with them and stimulate them. when a kid gets stimulated and playtime then the relax and "chill out".

as for impulsive behavior. kids are maturing humans and they learn from their parents. if you allow your child to continue certain behaviors, then your child will continue to be impulsive. if you "lay the smack down" then they will learn and make mistakes less and less b/c they are learning how to be a mature person.

i am not saying to beat your child or to even spank, there are lots of ways to instill discipline without hitting, but if your kid gets the urge to do something and doesn't ilicit self-control then he needs YOU, the parent, to correct him.

i see this all the time in my labrador. yes, i'm comparing your kid to my dog b/c we are not that far from animals ourselves. animals have behaviors very similar to humans, so here's the correlation:
you don't take dogs away from their mother too early. the reasons are many, but one is that she instills respect in them. she will nip them if they get out of line. now, obviously, it's up to my husband and i to carry on her teachings, which we do. if he got rambunctious and jumped up on us, then we immediately disciplined him. result---he doesn't jump up on people AT ALL.

our dog is very hyper. he is one of the largest labs we've ever encountered. he is 100 pounds and only 9 months old. that's a lot of lab to control! he gets very hyper and b/c of his size he can get a bit out of control. when i see that he is getting energized, then i take him for a walk or we go to the dog park. even if i'm not in the mood at that moment to tend to him, i do b/c it's my responsibility.

SO....it comes down to you.
play with your kid and limit his TV time. i don't think TV is bad, i used to watch lots of TV when i was a kid, however, i had lots of playtime too.
so, play with your kid and when he gets out of line don't make excuses for him. discipline him!! please!

thank you.
take care.

Answer 9

we have found fish oil tablets really good.
some times if a child is not doing very will at school you will have to think about puting them on meds.
please give the fish oil tablets ago they really do work and make sure the child is eating healthly

Answer 10

get him tested for food allergies. my nephew has food allergies, which cause him to act really bad when he eats certain foods. what they do once they test him is start a treatment program to help deal with the allergy. this is an often ignored problem, which i highly recommend you look into.

one of his biggest allergy was oranges... so, it can be things you would never even think of....