problem with an 8 yr old?

Question

my 8 yr old has reading comp. problems and hes in threat of failing the 3rd grade because of it.........it takes him an hour to an hour and half to do homework....when its only supposed to take 30 mins......he does his homework but sometimes to "forget" to turn it in.....its a constant "i forgot" from him....some ppl told me he could have ADD.....im not sure if thats it....does it sound like it to u guys??

Answer 1

Rather typical behavior for 8 yr old boys..they are easily distracted and if they are bored with school that makes it worse. Check his reading skills first with a magazine or newspaper...pick anything out and have him read it out loud...how does he do? mispronounced words don't count...is he slow or starts over repeatedly...missing his place in the sentence? Kids at this age have trouble following along..have him use his finger to follow the words in the sentence...now how does he sound? if it's still stunted or slow...he needs work identifying the words, the basics of reading. Can he remember what he has read? have him stop after a few sentences and take the paper from him, can he remember what he just read..not word for word..but the meaning of what he read...if he can do that, or get the top points, he has a normal problem...paying attention and being focused. Attention Deficit problems are not only in school...can he sit still and watch the t.v. or play video games for any length of time...use common sense here...if he can play a game for a few levels or watch a good portion of a T.V show...then he is fine. He needs some discipline and no matter how long it takes him to do his homework, make him do it. As to handing it in and being focused..I have 3 sons..all had the same problem, a fight to do homework..and a fight to hand it in on time...once they realized Mother would take video games away and T.V. well...they got cracking and did what they were suppose too. They still forget an occasional assignment...and they still do the whine about they hate school and homework...and they build robots that walk, one is Mr. Fix it...he wants to be an electrician, and one wants to be a aerospace engineer, the other hasn't got it all figured out yet, but is still working on his robots..now they walk and pick up things...(laugh) I know your frustrated and just want to scream....it gets better and then it gets worse...depends on the age. As for the A.D.D....if you really believe your son has a problem find a qualified Neurologist in Pediatrics who deals with A.D.D..and then have a full work up done on him...before you put him on medications for it consider carefully if they are needed.

Answer 2

I am having the same problems with my 8 year old boy. I would take him to his pediatrician and have him tested for ADD just to rule it out. The school can also test him if you want to go that route. It is such a coincidence (for me) that you brought this up. I was just talking with a girlfriend (she called while I was answering your question) who is in the medical field and had a brother that was ADD. She suggested that I try caffeine with my son. If you go on-line and read about ADD caffeine is suppose to help. I'm going to go break out the diet mountain dew this weekend and see if it helps. Try caffeine and see if it makes a difference. I would still get him tested to rule out anything else.

Answer 3

You need to talk to the teacher.It is your responsibility to check whether or not that he does have add.Dont ask us.Take your son to be checked out not that all doctors believe inthe existence of Add.H e might just be tired from a long day at school then the need to focus on homework which takes him a while.

Answer 4

If you think he has ADD (which, to me, is a stupid label) then stop giving him anything with sugar in it.
A few years ago, a local woman had her son diagnosed with ADD. She vowed to keep him off of medication so she stopped giving him everything with sugar. Shortly thereafter, his moods changed and he began behaving like a normal child again.
For some reason doctors would rather place children on drugs than to solve the problem (it's really the issue of $$$ - they get kick backs from every drug they prescribe to a patient).
Just change his diet and stay away from the $$$ hungry doctors.
Also, buy a Leap Pad and work with him on it. This will help him.

Answer 5

My son is 8 and he not only sucks his thumb but he will grab the tag in the back of his shirt and rub on it. I have noticed though that he does it when he is upset and when he is tired so just watch your son and see if there is a pattern to it and go from there. For some kids it is a comfort thing.

Answer 6

I THINK IT WOULD ATKE ALOT MORE THAN THAT FOR IT TO ADD. IKNOW MANY KIDS THAT DO HAVE IT.I WOULD SAY HE IS JUST ONE OF THOSE KIDS THAT HAS TO TAKE MORE TIME AND NEEDS TO FOCUS A LITTLE MORE. HES STILL YOUNG ENOUGH THAT THAT WILL HAPPEN.BUT YOU WOULD KNOW BETTER THAN ANYONE, IF YOU FEEL THERE IS A PROBLEM MENTION IT TO THE DR AND SEE WHAT THEY SAY. GOOD LUCK WITH THAT, BUT FROM WHAT YOU SAID IT SOUNDS LIKE HES JUST NEEDING SOME EXTRA HELP.

Answer 7

Talk to his teacher about this issue. Maybe you can get her to start a checklist for him to what he has to bring home. And then you do the same checklist for when he leaves in the morning for school.
Try a tutor, he may not be understanding the homework and not wanting to do it. They will be able to get him to focus on getting it done.

Answer 8

There are some great on-line reading tools available. "Homeschooling" search bring up the best links.

www.atozkidsstuff.com
>resources
>home school

www.bookadventure.com
>5 finger test ck to see if book is too hard for you

Answer 9

Doesn't sound like ADD at all, sounds more like dyslexia. See if there's a Sylvian Center near you and have him tested. They can help.

Answer 10

Has your child been tested for dyslexia. Dyslexic children find it very hard to read and can't focus properly with their work or it might just be that he needs extra help.