My 8yo son .... | ADHD Information

.... is so much more relaxed now he's on school holidays its frightening.  Food for thought, huh?  Maybe his current school is just not the right place for him. I will see what transpires after he visits the paed on 21 Dec (for diagnosis, I think - we've got all the forms, etc, in place) and how he handles his new teacher next year. Otherwise another school may be best for him.  Do any other parents find that their kids are MAJORLY more relaxed when on school vacation?My 7ys old was just the opposite.  With his new meds he was doing well in school then when summer break got here he did not know what to do with himself.  He also is OCD and has to have the same routine everyday or he does not have a good day from then on. and I learned from this summer to put him in summer school this summer.  Bless his heart!!!!    I hate for him to have to go to school all the time but I don't know what else to do for him.

We have seen this as well. Last year, school was a disaster for my daughter. When summer break started, she calmed down, was less defiant and had fewer tantrums (we had started a positive reinforcement program by this time as well). We did the med trials during the summer and were ready when school started (with a 2 week no med baseline). The anxeity, depression and rages have not recurred this year, she is successful in school and peer issues are getting better. Even on those few nights where there is lots of homework, she just takes it in stride and does not get upset. For the moment, she seems to have conquered the anxiety of school.

Next, it will be puberty...

We moved to a major city in another state and the school personnel were horrendous to him because I wouldn't put him on meds. He developed hand tremors so bad he never stopped shaking and became extremely hyper. We moved back home and they totally disappeared. The school does make a difference.

Now that he is in a higher grade his experiences were bad enough I took him out to homeschool but he wasn't as anxious even then.

Ah yes!!  Ouyr 13 year old suffers from huge anxiety.  In the past we have altered meds etc yelled and screamed to push him through.  He had a tremendous melt down in september and the specialists insisted I take him out of school and do what we call in Australia, Distance Education - / school of the air.  It has been a huge effort and so much work.  But he's now finished for the year and will begin a new year (our high school) at the end of January.  He's so happy just playing on his computer, watching TV, swimming and chasing the dog!  The biggest issue is that he's getting great sleep - he sleeps in until 10 ish most days and is so happy and settled.  School is just too much!!!  We are in faced with the issue of going back to school or continuing at home - I think that he needs to go into the world and socialise as its so easy to be safe in your little bubble.  Obviously the demands of school, socialising, asignments, listening for instructions etc is just overload and they need time out.  It would be like going to Japan with only beginner's Japanese language lessons - they just get so worn out.  We cope it at home at night because they have to vent somewhere to release the stress inside. Enjoy the peace!!!

I've heard of School of the Air!  Believe it or not what I remember it most from is when Princess Di, and Princes Charles and William went to Aussie many years ago (1982?) and they were talking over the air to distance learners, I saw it on TV. I was 7 at the time and very taken with Prince William and I was the same age as the learners, I found it so fascinating. Anyway that's off the subject.

Happyrock, your son sounds like mne - he also plays computer, watches TV, swims and plays with the dogs.