Hi All,
Our dear son, age 5 1/2 just diagnosed Gifted & ADHD. Thankfully, we are a homeschooling family and school isn't a problem at this time. But, one thing that we really would like help with is his desire to "start trouble" --he pokes people, snatches stuff, etc. He is the kid who gets things started at church running and then takes it too far..pushing and hitting. He seems to not have any boundaries and it is difficult to know how to respond to this. All the little kids make a bee-line to me to tattle on him. The plan with his Dr. is not to medicate at this time because he is doing great on his school work. But, we worry about his social skills. Anyone try anything that worked? Thanks in advance!
Sounds like he needs more experience in social skills.
Is he bored in his homeschool setting? Not stimulated? School offers music, pe, art, lunch, recess, etc that he may be seeking out.
I wonder if he is really bored. The best way to get social skill experience is to be in a social setting. School would certainly be one of them.
Hi,
For my son the only thing that has helped his social skills is medication. Without meds he just cannot/won't (who really knows the difference) clue into non-verbal cues given by friends. He slows down his reactions to life's challenges and reacts in a much more age approbriate way which in turn helps his self esteem. It's very sad to me that he needs the meds to slow his mind down to make better decisions in all areas of his life but he does. One thing to remember (I struggle with this) your son does not want to be socially unacceptable, who would? It really isn't a choice by him certainly not at his age. He doesn't wake up and say "Gee, I want to get in trouble today with every child I meet and annoy the heck out of them." They just don't get it. My son only "get's it" when his meds are working.
I know every family has a challenge in finding the right school or schooling method but for my son homeschooling would not have been good. He needs the intense and frequent social interactions of the other children. It hasn't always been smooth but he is happy. He is at a private school that feeds his intense curiosity and his active mind. We are lucky to find the right environment.
Good luck.