At preschool my daughter tends to be disruptive when things dont go her way. Example from teacher : My daughter was not wanting to particiapte in circle time, so she was asked to sit in a center with a couch. Every time the teacher would start to instruct the other children she would scream loudly a grunt, just as the teacher was talking or every time she spoke. More of teacher pay attentiont o me.
Or an other example she would scream, cry, hit and run out the room to see her brother in the other room. (they are best friends and do everything together- I have since removed my son to a older program at another school. Where he can roller skate, play games, and do homework or work on crafts geared towards children his age) Daugher is 4 son is 6.
They are wanting to call my daughter ADHD. I am no doctor, I have no degree in how the brain works. At home I do not have issues with my daughter do these kinds of things. I how ever do not like that she does them at preschool either. I do have a friend who is in her 50's who is currently 1st grade teacher. SHe is a firm minded teache
No doctor would even diagnose a child that young with any sort of condition. In many cases it's just a matter of discipline and there age..
How is she at home? Do you see the same issue's?
If not then it sounds like she has found a way to rattle the teacher and get her way.
You really need to have a neuropysch or a neurologist test your daughter.
A teacher cannot label a child w/ ADHD. In fact, many teachers do not know the characteristics of ADHD and esp ADD.
I'm a parent educator and I refer children to specialists. Ask the pediatrician to rec who to go for testing.
First, try taking away all preservatives, dyes, etc...in foods!
Make sure she is getting the required amt of sleep. Sometimes these 2 things can cause a child to "APPEAR to have ADHD". Sometimes it's parenting...too much tv, no limits, too much junk food --all mixed w/ the child's temperament. It's hard to tell w/out being there.
How is she at home? Do she cooperate? Does she act out at home?
Limit tv and media to less than 2 hrs a day, too.
What have the TEACHERS tried? They should have a plan in place to help her cooperate before they make that assumption.
Teachers cannot diagnose your daughter. She could have ODD, ADHD or something else from a myriad of possible conditions or simply be wanting her way and needing consistent consequences. Talk to your pediatrician to get a referral to a specialist who can start tests to determine what the cause of her behavior is. Best wishes!
1) You don't diagnose ADHD in younger kids the same way as older kids. The classic tells being fairly normal for the age. INSTEAD what you look for is what ISN'T typical for the age (some examples include: intense concentration... Whether that's positive like reading/helping/etc., or negative or a 6hour tantrum, or running for 5+ miles until their feet are bleeding. Most toddlers have a 15 minute attention span. ADHD toddlers will easily go 2-6 hours in hyperfocus.)
2) A disqualifying factor for ADHD is it only presenting in one environment. Now... It can LOOK like it doesn't in one (phenom environment), but it will still be everywhere else, and honestly, still in the one it 'doesn't'. BUT only present in one (like preschool, but not home, friends homes, sitters, outings, etc.)... Means its the environment not the brain.
3) Only doctors and psych can diagnose. Teachers may suggest an eval, but NEVER a diagnosis.
3.5) I'm ADHD :) :) :) Snd I have an ADHD son. And I can 'spot' ADHD the way most people can spot Ru Paul. But I NEVER say 'Its ADHD'. I say 'sounds like', neon signs, lay money on it being ADHD, if it is ADHD, 'get an eval', etc. Now... I don't look at the scattegorizing, my radar is on different aspects.... But I STILL don't say 'Is'. Because a LOT of stuff needs to be ruled out first AND disorders share symptoms. Granted, I've yet to be wrong IRL, yet. But I'm not qualified to DX. Just eminently qualified to 'spot'. Teachers, to a degree, are similar... In that they know how an average/typical child 'looks'. So they can say EVAL!!!! But saying ADHD eval is crossing the line. Maybe well intentioned, but still crossing.
A psychiatrist or neurologist must diagnose, not a preschool. All four of my kids are ADHD though one is also PDD. None of them had problems with preschool.
Well, technically to be diagnosed ADHD, the symptoms have to have been present for at least 6 months and occur in multiple settings (i.e. - not solely at school). A teacher is qualified to teach...she is NOT qualified to diagnose ADHD. If you are concerned that your daughter may be ADHD, talk to your pediatrician about a referral to a psychiatrist. If your daughter is just seeking attention and having some separation issues, perhaps her pediatrician will first recommend a play therapist. Or, your daughter may have a sensory processing issue, in which a meltdown could be similar to the behavior being reported from the teacher. Or, it could be that your daughter's preschool is simply NOT the right environment for her to be successful. All of this is why the teacher shouldn't take it upon herself to throw out the ADHD label. What she should do is recommend that you discuss this issue with your pediatrician.
They want to label her ADHD hoping that you'll medicate her so she'll sit quietly just the way they want her to. Don't do it.
It doesn't sound like she's ADHD, it just sounds like she needs to learn to be part of a group and to respect authority.
I think part of the solution is for her to understand that there is communication between you and the teachers and that there will be consequences at home for bad behavior at school.
And don't let people tell you you can't punish her at home for bad behavior at school because she won't understand due to the passage of time between the offense and the punishment. I don't buy that for a second! Kids have good memories when they want to and they are not dogs. They can and do understand when you say this is the punishment for your behavior at school. For example, if you told her in the morning that that night you are taking her out for ice cream, there is no doubt in my mind she would remember that. Likewise, she remembers when she acted poorly, disrupted the class, hit a teacher or ran out of the room.
I think once she realizes that you EXPECT good behavior and she will be punished for poor behavior, she'll straighten up.
I also think you could help her by practicing at home. Have her and brother sit on the floor, like circle time, while you read them a book. Practice makes perfect!
The behavior does not sound like ADHD; an easy label but often inapprorpiate especially at such a young age.
It sounds more as if your child is having some separation issues as well as possibly being a bit too spoiled. Yes she is looking for attention --negative or positive doesn't matter. She is pushing limits, possibly out of a desire to gain some control of her environment. She may do the same at home to just more subtly.
Maybe you can being to offer more structure at home, with consistent discipline if she fails to follow some rules--ie time out. It sounds as if boundaries or lack of may be a concern as well.
Every school district has a "Child Find" obligation. If you are concerned about her school behavior, then you can ask the district to provide for your daughter a free evaluation. It will tell you if you need to explore this further or if she is having a hard time adjusting to this new situation in her life, being away from you and her brother. ADHD symptoms show up at home and school, not just one place. If you are interested in the free evaluation the person to call is:
Child Find: Blair, Heidi
Business: ###-###-####
Email: ____@____.com
Contact Heidi if you have questions about your child's development or are interested in having your child screened.
http://www.weldre4.k12.co.us/learning_services/Preschool_...
