5 Year Old Behavior Problems and Diet

Umm, yeah . . . sounds familiar!!! I can soooo sympathize with what you are going through! (My son is ADHD; now 10 in the 5th grade.) I can tell you from experience that structure is key. Lists are great-- morning checklists; bedtime checklists; chore list; homework lists-- the "list" goes on! LOL. Also try to avoid any major changes in schedule or routine, if possible.

As you prepare him for kindergarten, you might want to think about putting him in a Montessori school . . . The kids are allowed to work at their own pace, and the relaxed setting allows for ultimate concentration. They are completely engaged in the lesson b/c of the hands-on materials. They often sit on the floor when they do their work, which eliminates the issue of sitting still.

Changes that we made in diet included no dyed red foods; whole grain in the place of white bread for school lunches; no sugary breakfast foods (oatmeal or shredded wheat instead); peanut butter was apparently good for him; we even sent caffeinated drinks in his lunch at one point b/c apparently children who are ADHD don't become hyper with caffeine, but instead are calmer and able to concentrate better.

All that you are dealing with could just be immaturity (especially the personal space problem), and will likely improve with age, but I would urge you to not rule out the possibility of medication in the future. They have many medications that metabolize within 5 hours, so by the time your kid goes to sleep at night, his last dosage of medicine is completely out of his system. (I honestly felt worse about giving my kid the caffeine or aspartame in diet sodas! But he may very well be a more extreme case.)

But as you continue to observe your child and research the issues, you will know what's best. Just don't question or blame yourself, b/c that can be a brutal game. You're obviously on top of things as a Mom, or you wouldn't be working so hard at finding what is best for him

:-) O.

I was at Ann's Whole Foods in Oak Cliff and there was a pamphlet there about curing ADHD with diet and exercise. Maybe you can look around for it. I'm no longer in Dallas so I'm not sure if they still have it. Also, ask your doctor to check his lead levels because lead poisoning causes behavior problems too. Make sure he's getting lots of exercise...something structured and disciplined like karate or yoga...good luck!

What would it hurt to have him evaluated for ADHD now? You could say "no" or "later" to medication. You might find that he doesn't have ADHD at all, and then be able to concentrate on finding answers in another direction.

My older boy who is in college now had similar problems at school. He was kicked out of several preschools and one elementary school. He was a sweet and kind boy, but he was high energy, and simply didn't think before doing things. He knew right from wrong, but somehow couldn't stop himself from doing the wrong thing too frequently. He was diagnosed with ADHD at age three, and in his case was extremely hyperactive and impulsive, but with no learning problems whatsoever.

It took a few years to figure things out for him, but I finally found some things that helped to settle him down and help him be able to stop and think before doing things. Now he's at an elite university after graduating with many honors from a top-notch private school.

There are other ways to treat ADHD besides medication if that's what the cause is. What helped my son the most was the Feingold Diet. It is more than avoiding red dye, but it isn't as hard as it sounds. Mainly, it involves choosing brands of food and restaurant selections that don't contain petroleum derived additives. It may not work for every kid, but it has been life-changing for many children. If you're interested, check this link for information: www.feingold.org

We used behavior modification of different types with mixed success. It really didn't work until we cleared up his diet, then the behavior modification tactics had more of an impact.

If your son does have ADHD, can you get an early start on helping him before he has to un-learn some really bad social habits and before he starts to realize that he's alienating himself from other children. It's a whole lot easier to have control of his diet at a young age, if you go that route.

I don't know if we're allowed to name names on this site, but if that's allowed, I can tell you about a center in Arlington, Texas that has some good group behavior modification programs and a doctor who understands the role of diet for some kids.

We go to Dr. Bain in Frisco and she ordered a test for us (for chronic ear infections)that would tell us their food sensitivities that are causing their immune system to be repressed. As I have read through the materials from Immuno- Laboratories, it has mentioned their testing being guaranteed to help with hyperactivity. Diet is right on track in your thinking...check out these two resources:

Dr. Bain Healthykidspediatrics.com
ImmunoLaboratories

Good luck,

Can you try a 1 week diet for the entire family? Just go plain, natural, no milk and organic.... for 7 days and see how that works. Then at least you'd know if it made any immediate difference. Then you could add in one thing at a time... like milk for a week and see how that works.

A great bread is Ezekiel bread... but you have to toast it a little to make it taste good for sandwhiches. But it's great (frozen food section at Tom Thumb or Sprouts).

Hello J.,

follow your nose and gut instinct. Also, keep a diary of what and when he eats and his behavior up to 36 hrs later. My son CANNOT tolerate high fructose corn syrup. His behavior would change drastically about 24 hrs later after having one of those kid's fruit punch w/ HFCS. the main culprits could be gluten (wheat, rye, barley), dairy products and sugars and even chocolate. --has he been checked by a chiropractor to make sure the curvature of his neck is the way is supposed to be? -- check maximizedliving.com and click on find a maximized living doctor. (BTW, I do not work for maximized living)

I believe u should do as your doctor says as many kids do change once they start school year ...I have seen few kids like that so may be few more months u can give .Kindergarden may bring the change ...I am sure of it so be patient

Hi J., I sympathize with you and have been in your shoes. I would start reading and getting has much information as possible. It is really difficult for doctors to diagnose children at the age of 5 and my pediatrician wouldnt do it. I whole heartdly agreed but we did start working on a plan. We experience problems in kinder not handsy but focusing on his work was difficult. We worked with his teacher and started taking steps to rule out food allergies etc. I started making routines for him and little check list for his age. To include little things like even brushing his teeth. As far as diet I cut out all sugars unless it was natural. I packed his lunch everyday with fruits, whole grain organic chicken I would cube and cheese. I would mix it up and it helped with keeping him calm but not with focusing. I will tell you that there are no short-cuts. To be honest on the side of my house I have a small vegetable garden that my son and daughter take care of. It isnt as much work as I originally thought( of course we are not trying for award winning prize vegetable) once you plant the kids water and check it everday after school. They enjoy eating the foods they grew.

It is a lot of work even if you choose medication. I still have to be extremely organized and only give him one tasks at a time. By the way my daughter also was diagnosed and she responds wonderful to the change in diet and natural vitamins, no medication needed for her. Every child is different and judgment is not fair, what works for one does not work for the other so for all the moms who might critisize your decision, until they walk in your shoes they have no idea what there saying. One last thing my son is in honor classes so just because your son struggles with ADD does not mean he isnt super smart.

Hi! Before going too drastic or getting too concerned, make sure it's not just regular behaviour for a little boy. I have two boys and a little girl and I can tell you, boys are much more high-strung! I recommend you read the book "Bringing up Boys" by Dr. James Dobson. Also, if you really think ADHD or something similar might be a possibility, consider kids Spark from AdvoCare. Adult Spark is an energy drink, but a recent study by Texas Tech said that kids Spark is as effective as Ridelin (spelling?) or other ADHD medications. All it is is vitamins, minerals, amino acids and a small amount of caffeine. It's safe for kids over 4, a lot cheaper and safer than meds and a lot less drastic than changing your whole eating lifestyle. Get in touch with me if you want more info!

hi J.,
I have been working with children with learning and behavorial disabilities for ten years and more than half of the children I work with have some sort of food allergies. I have been working with a boy since he was three years old, he has alot of behavorial problems. Two months ago he got tested for food allergeis and the test said he had allergies to milk, wheat,and gluten. After changing his diet he became a new boy. I would look into changing his diet and see if that helps. The only insurance that will pay for food allergy testing is blue cross blue shield, out of pocket it is $750. Their is a natural Dr in Grapevine you can call and ask questions, Constantine Korsanis, I know he has help alot of families from labeling their children ADD/ADHD.###-###-####. Good luck, I know its not easy.

There is an organic co-op all over the metroplex. Check out www.yourhealthsource.org. You can join their Yahoo group too. It's wonderful because it offers affordable food. And, the moms on there will help you get started on your journey- no matter where you are at on the road. Also, as far as ADD testing and options... Have you considered or heard of pediatric chiropractic care? You can read more at www.icpa4kids.org. And, if you find a chiropractor who does holistic care, they can be an awesome guide for nutritional choices too. I don't know where you live, but Dr. Bain mentioned is great as an MD. Dr. David Clark in Dallas is wonderful (chiropractic neurologist) www.northlakechiropractic.com

I would definitely rule out food allergies before ruling out ADHD. I am incredibly sensitive to sugar. Maybe he is too? A lot of people are actually. I have to avoid high fructose corn syrup and regular sugar as much as I can. It's nearly impossible to completely avoid it! I don't buy hardly any prepackaged foods (as I seemed sensitive to many of the weird ingredients that they put in those types of foods). I try to make things from scratch. I also avoid MSG and a few other things I'm allergic to.

It does affect my behavior if I have those things. I was tested as a child for food allergies because I was having some other problems (bladder issues) and they found out it was related to food allergies (called Candida)...and those food allergies also affected my behavior.

Anyway, I am a STRONG believer in ruling out things that might be causing behavior issues. I think way more people are sensitive to certain foods/ingredients than they realize. You don't have to start your own garden (though wouldn't it be fun if you had time?! I know I'd love too...but I think it would go to waste right now). You can buy organic pretty easily now. It is more expensive, but it might be worth the try;-)