Son likes to tackle, can’t keep hand2self | ADHD Information

My son 8 1/2, was alot like yours at 5.  Diagnosed with sensory issues, he is a sensory seeker.  Currently, he has mild adhd, on focalin xr and clonidine.  Watch him and especially other boys when they are playing in groups--I would observe him during park district sports classes.  While I was concerned about my son's behavior, I would always see at least 2-3 other boys doing the same thing.  I never witnessed another child rebuking my son, they all seemed to accept this behavior.  He had 2 1/2 yrs of weekly OT, which helped, and we have many theraputic aids at home and at school to help him self regulate.  This particular issue has really diminished with age and maturity.My son is 5 and is close to getting suspended off the bus for not keeping his hands to hisself and not staying seated.He hits on older kids and doesnt care.Hes not trying to fight, but playing too rough.

My 5-year-old son who initially has been diagnosed as borderline and is not on meds (wait and see attitude on) is great with us at home but becomes more and more impulsive and wild the more kids he is around. Now that it's almost spring and the neighbor kids are outside, I'm seeing this lack of personal space/boundaries creep up again. t's like he gets so excited, he can't keep his hands and feet to himself. He loves to hug other kids and grab their hands to follow him, etc. He does this all without asking and sometimes other kids do not like it, but he doesn't seem to be able to see that. When he was younger (about 3), he would tickle other kids until we taught him you don't do that without asking someone if they want to play like that and he has no issues there anymore. The other thing he tends to do when playing is sometimes bump into another child or tackle them for no apparent reason. He doesn't appear to do it out of anger as he's a pretty happy kid but perhaps more for attention??? We've explained and explained and explained that bumping is unacceptable (which he'll repeat and should understand at his age ...), put him in time out, etc. but that area doesn't seem to get through his head. It's like he's so excited, he can't control himself. Anyone experience similar behaviors? Any advice on how to stop this?

My son is very impusisive. He takes guafacine which helps control it, as well as concerta.

We didn't start meds until the end of 1st grade. Boy what a difference!!

It possibly could be related to impulsivity, or it might be sensory-seeking behavior as part of sensory integration disorder (SID).  SID and ADHD can look very similar.  Maybe read the book The Out of Sync Child and see if any of those suggestions help?

He really didn't mean it, but it looked like he did. He wanted to play, and only knew by doing the "things" he did, the wrong things. He is immature, especially before meds. He really ticked off the kids, they didn't know. It didn't help him also being the "biggest" kid in class in both height and weight, but the youngest in age, and adhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhd on top of it, and speech delayed. Instead of using words, he would "do things" to get their attention thinking they would like him, but it backfired., with the moms as well

 

Bethann -- Did your son's impulsiveness look similar in terms of being physical with other kids? Just curious. :)