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Ds age 5; adhd? Or normal five year old?

1 reply

adhdor · 14/01/2026 17:48

Ds is five (only just) and his behaviour does trouble me a fair bit. I might miss some things out but here are the things that I find worrying.

  1. Feet … sounds weird but he is constantly pushing his feet up against something or someone. It’s really irritating to be honest. He’ll be sat at the table and putting his feet up, next to other people’s food.
  2. He won’t sit down, ever. At home he’s constantly wandering up and down, lying on the floor, hanging off things, he will barely ever just sit on the sofa.
  3. He has a strong sense of justice but it’s massively skewed, he’ll expect other children to let him have a turn on a game or toy immediately but then won’t return the favour, or their turn will last ten seconds and his ten minutes. (I don’t allow this - I’m pretty firm with him about it but see point four.)
  4. He becomes very stroppy, whiny and impossible to sort of reason with when told off. Often goes to hide somewhere or talks over you or similar.
  5. Often seems to get almost manic, for no apparent reason. Laughing but (sorry to sound mean) it’s not a nice, child having fun laugh. It genuinely feels like a sort of psychotic cackle.

There probably are more … if I’m very honest it’s very difficult to parent him although he’s not actually that difficult usually on his own (he has a sibling ) Which does make me wonder if it’s a bit of attention seeking rather than anything untoward.

School have raised no concerns and neither did the nursery he attended: I am almost at the stage where I doubt my own mind!

OP posts:
Sonolanona · 14/01/2026 20:20

You just described my Grandson😁(nearly 5)..and actually, his uncle my DS1 as a child
CANNOT stay still, constantly seeking physical stimulation..upside down or flinging himself from sofa to sofa.. non stop motion and a pain when you are trying to get ready to go out (or to school) as he's whizzing round rather than getting his shoes on etc.
Sulks and hides, finds doing other children's play hard (likes to be the one to lead the game) but is kind, loving ..just a bit bonkers. Teacher describes him as 'very bouncy!' but no issues reported

Two of my kids (not DG's mum!) have adhd, and were very similar throughout school. My DD needed meds, DS1 just bounced his way through school. They were ok, hard work at times but ok.

He's hard work at times. Not ALL of the time but can be very wearing, and absolutely delightful all within 20 minutes😂(I look after him and his baby sister several days a week)

They are little, and have strong personalities. That isn't a bad thing, and if school aren't having a problem, I suspect he tones it down at school ! Some kids are placid, easy going (my DD2 ..mum.. is) some are NOT. I had two of each and they drove me INSANE at times.
We were also well known at Minor injuries as DS1 would do all sorts of ridiculous things. But it also meant he had the personality to grab life.. he now lives in Adelaide, making music, doing stuff his more easy going siblings would never have done. His ADHD sister was so determined from 4 years old to be a doctor... and yep she's a doctor.
Survive the bounce and you have a great kid ahead!

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