High Energy 5 Year Old Boy

My Grandson was the same way when he was small.I have to tell you that he still has all tht energy and still interrupts conversations. He's 11 now and he is diagnosed with ADHD. He has been on medicine for this disorder since he was 4. It's a tuff road travled. However, He is the most sweetest , caring loveable boy you could ever meet. He always has been. His medicine was recently changed and WHAT A DIFFERENCE IN HIS MOOD!!! He is happy with this change too. There is more harmony in the house now. What I like to do for him when he is confined is to make a clear path for him to run and jump and shoot hoops with his nerf basketball. Good luck and best wishes.

Having ADHD doesn't mean you are not smart. have your child evaluated by the school and see what they say. Be prepared for an outside evual though.

The teacher has no qualifications to diagnose ADHD (unless she's also a board-certified medical specialist?), so that comment was totally inappropriate. ETA: I do see now it was perhaps the pediatrician who said this? Again, not qualified. You need a specialist. ADHD isn't diagnosed in a thumbs up/thumbs down way in brief discussion during another appt.

I have a son with ADHD and actually do recommend you have your son evaluated for this condition. If he has excessive energy at home and at school, that can be a sign. Your son may be able to focus well on tasks that interest him but everything else can be distracting and make it tough to sit still. What you have described is quite common in kids with this condition.

Ask your pediatrician for a referral to a specialist or pursue one on your own. Most pediatricians are not qualified to evaluate kids for ADHD, but specialists such as psychiatrists and neuropsychologists are. A developmental pediatrician is another option. See which one your health plan will cover. You might also check out the websites for ADDitude magazine and CHADD to see if the information they share about this condition sounds true to your situation.

Best of luck to you! I hope you're able to get help that makes a real difference for your son.

I think O. PP misread your post to assume the teacher said she is sure he doesn't have ADD...I read it as your pediatrician said that.

Look, it's HARD for little boys to sit, criss-cross applesauce, hands folded, and listen to a story.
At the time dictated by the teacher.
I think, it's harder for boys to get into that groove of school with increased focus, and attention, than it is for girls. I have a boy.
Keep encouraging him to follow the class rules, pay attention, etc.
He'll get it. Promise!

Use your imagination to help him burn up energy. I had one child in daycare that was like that. I had him run circles around the pool table while I went through the alphabet a letter for each lap. He was about 3, so you can imagine the energy. Frugalady suggested sports, which are great, too, but you can probably find something at home for him to do. One of those big punching dolls that bounce back is another idea. Christmas is coming! He's going to be home for 10 days!

My nephew is very much like that. What helped was giving him an outlet for all that energy. He goes to school, and then after school he plays some kind of sport. Depends on the season. He seriously goes almost every night. Whenever they have a 2 week break in-between seasons my sister calls me and says he's driving them nuts :)

Please check out the celebratecalm.com site from Kirk Martin - he provides great tools (not meds) for parents and teachers with children who have a lot of energy. I have found it helpful.

Like Denise P said, it is really hard for boys to keep still. They need activities that will keep them moving and thinking. Your pediatrician is probably right, he is smart and bored!.