Summer?? | ADHD Information

We had our evaluation meeting last month.  Everything came back great...he scored seven points higher than the average child his age...However, he showed signs of great struggling in math and reading (of course!) and qualified for special education classes. The staff actually suggested we keep him in his main classroom, we are holding him back. They feel he is more than able to catch up once he's in his age-appropriate classroom. He's just too young for the material presented to him. Now, instead of one of the youngest (six in first grade), he'll be one of the oldest. I see many advantages to that and am feeling blessed for all the wonderful results.

Our doctor has suggested, too, that we take our ds off of his medication and allow him to mature and be 'himself' for the summer.  DS had not gained but a half of a pound since we started meds in March of last year...he's afraid it's a side effect and wants him to be able to regain a full appetite and gain some weight over the summer. he's skinny minny!   But, hey, he won first place in the wrestling tournament! ha ha (Yes, I'm still on cloud 9 for him on that one!! Gotta sing those praises!!)

what do you guys suggest as forms of coping this summer with him off of his meds?  We will be busy going to the Lake and he's going to be in summer school until mid June. He goes to a sitter while I'm at work and I feel for her for having to deal with him off of meds. It's a house full of kids but he's at the in between age for too young and the others are too old?  I'm feeling good but anxious about the decision.  Dr also mentioned if he struggled too much with his hyper/impulsivity then we could medicate with lower dosage...I'd love to see him without...so I'm trying to plan ahead for the unexpected...how easy is that? HA

See, I knew someone would know what I was trying to say!  I just want to find some coping strategies and such...I want this to be a super summer full of fun and not so much yelling...I'll have to see his reaction with the peanut butter...

You might want to look into adjusting his diet.  It is not an easy route but it can help.  My ds seems to be sensitive to peanut butter.  His behavior always gets worse after he has some.  I don't know why but I am trying to avoid it.

 

good luck!

 

I appreciate everyone's "0.2 cents"   It's what I asked for!!

I've also considered buying a work out video for the times that I see being most 'temperamental'...exercise is something we've re-started now that the weather is nice anyway, so the video could just emphasize it (while getting rid of some excess energy)!

I'm nervous to see how it goes, I just want success for him so much...I may get myself educated a little more on the magnesium drink as well. I'll look into it, I've never heard of it...

 

Sorry, I didn't mean that the peanut sensitivity was everyone's problem just my newest eye openner. 

As far as going off meds, the best thing for my son when off them is exersize.  If you can keep him moving it might help. 

Just my $.02,

 

 

Hi

When my son is coming off of his meds I use Natural Calm by Peter Gillham.  It is a powder magnesium and I put it in a glass of hot water.  It works for us.  Yesterday he was going off about 4:00 (nothing new) I gave it to him and he was calm and watching TV within the hour.

Sherri

Apparently your child has a food sensitivity to peanut butter. If the child is acting out behaviorally due to a food sensitivity that is separate and apart from ADHD. The behaviors of the ADHD child are exacerbated by the food sensitity but if the child doesn't have a food sensitivity or allergies, eliminating peanut butter won't improve the symptoms of ADHD. As far as maturity, please keep in mind that children with ADHD have a 30% maturity lag.

A lower dose of stimulant medication may render the medication ineffective because the type of medication and the dose for each child is very individual. Effectiveness ofs stimulant medication is not measured by the dose but rather how the individual child responds to it.

You know your child best in terms of what is best in the summer as far as medications go. If your child acts on impulse and needs constant supervision as most ADHD children do off medication, consider the safety issues. Good luck with your decision

 

Hey,
I'm struggling with the same thoughts.. Last Summer, I took Will off the meds and I almost lost my mind.  Day 5 I gave him his meds back.  I would also like to see Will off them to see if he can mature SOME and also eat but I feel I won't make it again...