destructive tendencies in children | ADHD Information

My daughter was a great deal like this when she was younger.  She used to "pick" on the furniture, and would remove the doors to the entertainment center, and even the glass doors on our stereo.  If it could be removed, she would find a way.  She was a very destructive child-but not intentionally.  She is almost 9 now, and has been on ADHD meds for 2 years.  These behaviors have slowed down somewhat.  Now, we mostly have trouble with her not taking care of her own belongings.  She still likes to get into things, though, and occasionally ruins things that don't belong to her, mostly through curiousity.  They are not big things, like furniture, now, but my craft supplies, makeup, etc.My son used to chew his shirt until he made holes in them. This was when he was 5 or so, and he ourgrew it.

my son did this ONCE!  I spanked him for it.  He didn't do it again.  he was about 4 at the time.  But, most of the times, we don't spank, but that is destruction of propriety and I WILL NOT TOLERATE THAT.  I am hard on him about taking pride in his home.  I did most of the sheet rock work in this house, i was not going to let my son tear it up.  I'm a mean mom.  lol

My son was very destructive--starting at about 18 mo. Ripped the doors off of things to get to what he wanted. The child locks on my kitchen cabinets lasted about 30 sec. He ripped them out of the wood. (solid oak)

He would intentionally destroy his sisters art projects, homework papers, etc. He was about 3-4y was he was the worst.

He always destroyed things when angry. Throwing chairs, holes in walls, kicking glass doors(he had glass, french door to his bedroom), ripping things off the walls, etc. When he was 3-4y-----he was really bad.

Now at 6y---not as bad. He only get violent when raging. And I've learned over the years to prevent the destruction. (Grabbing the chair--before it goes flying). Even if it means restraining him.

 

Get him toys that suppose to come apart that's what I do for my boys they are very destructive.

 

His ped. set us up an appointment this Friday with a psycologist. He's constantly on the move, always getting into something. We are just now letting him in the kitchen without being in a high chair. But that too usually only lasts about 20 min tops and it's back to the livingroom, cuz you're so stressed out from telling him to get out of stuff. Thank goodness he still settles down enough to take a nap in the afternoon!

  His speach has always seemed fine. He is always jabbering about something. Though like his mother he sometimes mixes up his words, saying one when meaning another. And he loves to play with other kids (especially the girls  ) but he doesn't get to very often. I just learned our school system has a pre-school offered that I have to look into. I am also thinking of homeschooling him for a while. But I haven't made a decision yet. There is a dance studio near by that offers gymnastics to little kids that I want to look into, see if it is something we can afford.

  Just this last couple of weeks though he has been getting more defiant and had actually punched his baby sister (1 1/2yr) in the head.

  Ok I feel like I am rambling on forever. Thanks for listening

Has he been evaluated in any way?  What kind of doctor?  What was the diagnosis?

 

Sounds alot like my son (5 years old).  It has gotten better but I think he is just very mechanical, he has to know how things work.  He is in the process of unscrewing all the screws in his toys.  But when he takes the toy apart, it will not go back together, so it gets thrown away.  He is learning a big lesson, but it is also helping get rid of toys that he doesn't play with.  We just started meds back in October, and so far things are much better.  Hope this helps.What other symptoms does he have? Did he speak on time? Is he good with other kids? Is he rigid with trouble transitioning? Sensory sensitive?

   My son has been destructive since the day he learned to crawl. Not violent though. Started by pulling the trim off the bottom of the walls in the hallway, course they wouldn't stay on then so we kept it off. Then he started picking at the drywall, making holes actually in the walls. We must have had six holes along the bottom of the hallway at once. Had to block him from the hallway to stop him. Course then he pulled all the trim (fake plastic wood) off the entertainment center. And he is just now starting  to take care of his toys, he turns 4 next week. There wasn't a toy in the house that was not broken in some way. If it wasn't ment to come apart, he would find a way. Just this morning he tore the nemo place mat I got him for the table.  

   Wondering if anyone else is having this problem and if it gets better as they get older. He is not on any meds and we are just starting to change his diet, not artifical colors, flavors, ect. Planning on getting him on fish oil and mag soon. Thanks for the input.

my son has been on special diet does not work for him thought.he is nearly 4 and very destructive.it can takes him days but if he wants to break something he will do it.the only thing that works is to keep him occupied all the time.which is humanly impossible.so i do not buy anything new and be thankfull that he has decided to destroy my bedrrom instead of jumping out of the window.sorry not very helpfull