Night time evening behavior advice | ADHD Information

My daughter seems to be at her wildest in the evenings, like when we get home from school and work for me.  My daughter is into everything  and climbs and reaches falls and my house gets trashed.  She reminds me of a child octupus and full of energy, daytime is better for her.  At bedtime it takes honestly over an hour to do our routine.  Once I get her into bed i hear whinning "my this hurts or that", she will get up and try playing so i take her music away,  It is a nightmare every night that i dread bedtime.  This goes on until I loose it and yell ( I am trying not to but I am tired and want to sleep as well).  Bedtime is 8:30 and she finally sleeps by 10:00  and the only medications she is on is allergy stuff.  My daughter is 5 years old and was diagnosed in November with ADHD.  I do try to take things away for time out to control some behavbior and it changes with what her favorite may be at the time, this works some but I get so frustrated and stressed.  Mornings for school are fun I dress her and have to get her moving that is a struggle too, but later in the daytimes are her wildest.  SOS

rae70 is right on the money, Night time is a tough time for most kids. Add ADD to the mix and ahhhh! Try a strict routine - do the same thing each night, dinner, tv/homework time, possible snack/water, bath/brush teeth, sit on bed with her read her a story, hugs and kisses and tuck her in. If she gets up, pick her up or guide her right back to bed ignoring all talk. Say to her 'it's bedtime.' If she gets up again, do the same thing. Every time she gets up after that say nothing and just put her back to bed. When she realizes you will be consistent and not swayed by what she is saying - she'll stay in bed. Do this every night and it will get better each time.

As far as her daytime behavior, it will not stop until you let her know it is unacceptable. find a 'naughty corner' to put her in. First warn her, next get down to her level and make eye contact and say 'that behavior is unacceptable now you are going to the naughty corner for 5 minutes (a minute for each year of age). Place her in the corner and walk away. Do the same thing you would do if she was getting out of bed. When her time is up tell her to apologize for her behavior and give her a hug.

sawbuck4438406.4134953704

My daughter would be like this also - but I have become extremely tough with her.  I dont allow her to watch TV in the evenings anymore - unless she is sitting with me or family quietly.

And unfortunately I have given her no choices.  I have told her she is to go to bed and stay there - and I ignore all complaints - if she gets up and say firmly what is it?  Then answer the problem with okay do this, now get back to bed !

I spose you have tried this however.

You may think this is weird, but someone recommended a lava lamp for my boys.  We have that and a disco ball that flashes coldered lights slowly around the ceiling.  It has helped them calm down as they go to bed.  They lay and gaze.  I have the opposite problem (I posted it on the other board).  At my house it is definitely mornings that are the problem.

My son is scared of the dark so he has a lamp in his room,we have to remove his adaptor for his plug as if we do not do this he will get up in the night and watch tv or play video games,I hope one day to not have to do this,but at the moment its all I can do.He also gets up every night at least twice a night for the toilet or whatever,if I am in my bed he goes in the kitchen and helps himself to stuff which I find half eaten or hidden in his room,I have now put a padlock on the kitchen door so when I get up there is still food in the kitchen!

I do stick to a routine and take things away, she loves music at bedtime.  The bad bedtime behavior goes in cycles she is good for awhile then reverts back.  Thank you all for your good ideas.  Jill