I think my child has ADHD | ADHD Information

Hi Rockys mom.  I think you'll find a lot of support here on these boards.

You've mentioned several things you son shouldn't be doing... what can he do?

Have you given him many many different activites he can do and things he can touch and play with?  What is "on limits" Does he have a clear idea of what is acceptable and not.  At this age, I bet he is trying just to see how much he can do and get your attention.

I find structure for kids is wonderful and they actually want it (they won't tell you that).

I have found with my own ADHD son, that you have to set guidlines and follow them to the T and never ever give in a little.  My ADHD kids will take 5 miles if you give him a millimeter!

This has worked for me: I would start a healthy diet, implement a daily schedule with plenty of time to help around the house, explore indoors and outdoors, crafts, reading, one on one play, nap time, video time, bath time and bed time.  

If he's into paint and crazy stuff... I would lock things up that he's lot allowed into... don't let them me accessible for him to get in trouble.

Hugs to you!

Read a book called 1-2-3 Magic.Jessica N40017.9111111111My son is almost 4, and I am losing my mind. He runs away to the store and steals ice cream, I can't even go pee without him leaving the house. heis always arguing with me calling me names. getting into trouble. he painted my parents sofa and rug with Red paint yesterday, that on top of running away twice. he takes stuff and hides it outside. He is peeing all over the house, I catch him half the time all of the rooms stink like pee now. I took him to the Dr and he said he was to young to get diagnosed yet. He is very good at sports so we try to keep him busy, but we can't all the time. i can't even clean or cook because I am always watching him. i can't take my eyes off of him for one minute without him getting into some kind of trouble. His daycare recommended that he go to art therapy but he doesnt like to do arts and crafts so i dont know what that will do.
Help i don't know what to do.

My son was diagnosed at 3, but he was out-of-control since 2.  Most doctors don't LIKE to diagnose kids before 6 but there are good doctors out there that realize that some kids just don't follow a script. 

I was so desperate and so afraid that the docs would just tell me  "he's too young" "you'll just have to live with it until he gets older" "or it's normal 3 year old behavior".  I was shocked that this didn't happen.  Probably because my son is so severe.  None of them argued with me.  But you need to go to someone that is experienced with ADHD.  Don't just go to the pediatrician.  A child psychologist made the diagnosis for my son (he said my son was the youngest he's ever diagnosed-lucky us) but we also go to a psychiatrist for meds.  The psychiatrist is more comfortable prescribing the meds to a (now) 4 years old.  The others are uncomfortable with prescribing under 6 but she's not.

Don't take "he's too young" for an answer. So much lasting damage can be done to his self esteem if he's just left on his own for 2 more years until he's 6. Life can be so much better for him-and you-starting now.  Don't stop until someone listens to you.  You know your son best of all! 

Good luck!

I agree with not having things around (paint) or locking up what you don't
want him to get into. I have a few nephews that can break out of the
house at any given time and one even climbed out his bedroom window
and sat on the roof - scary - (they are only 6 and 4 now and this was a
few years ago!). Needless to say, safety is an issue. Lock windows so they
can't climb out. We even bought them an alarm (in some children's
catalog like One Step Ahead) that went on the back door and went off if
the child went out. They were and are very active (not diagnosed ADHD
by the way) and even broke the flat screen TV by throwing the control at
it. They are the sweetest boys, but can drive you nuts on occasion.

I agree that you should go to a child psych. or another medical doctor
that specialized in ADHD, not your pediatrician. My ds is ADHD/Anxiety
and was diagnosed at 5 although we realized it earlier. My ped. did not
agree because he saw him once a year on average. He was my first child
so I didn't know what was "normal" and what was not. My best friend also
had a first born with the same issues and we compared our children and
thought it must be "normal" and later they were both diagnosed with
ADHD! LOL We started ds on meds in preschool and it has made a huge
difference in his life.

Go with your "mom instincts" and get the help you need.

i would start with a strict routine at home (you can ease up a little once
you get things under control). Put away all things that you think would
cause problems (paint, etc). Tackle one problem/issue at a time and
move on from there. That always helped us with ds. Too much at once is
confusing and they can't process it all. Find one thing that he is good at
or has a big interest in and focus on that for now. Use it as a reward.

It will get better and you are not alone. Good Luck!