To wonder why my child has boundless energy?

[iwantamincepie]

I do love his enthusiasm but I am struggling.

He is 4, attends preschool for four days a week and it is very active, outdoors, play based. I could easily take him straight from preschool to the park or soft play for three hours. He just doesn’t stop.

If he is left to his own devices for any length of time he just gets bored and restless. I have to admit I’m a bit worried he has ADHD.

Does anyone have a child like this? I hear of some children exhausted from preschool / school - not mine

Mine are 3 & 6, they chase each other around the house and use the furniture like gymnastic equipment, even after a full day at school/nursery.

Neither of them can sit still for more than 5 seconds, it's tiring just watching them

I have a 5 year old, we joke we've not found his off-switch but seriously, it's exhausting and draining and gives me anxiety.

He cannot sit still - not for listening to a story, not to eat dinner - even playing on an iPad he is leaping around, trying to stand on his head, rolling around on the floor. He is not 'naughty' but he doesn't listen, doesn't follow instructions, doesn't give a flying fuck about being told off.

He literally never stops moving or talking. My patience is thin but I try and focus on the fact that it has to be worse for him. I can't imagine what is going on in his head all day long.

My 3.5 yo is like this. On Wednesday he went to preschool, then he spent 2hrs chasing his friend round and round the park. Then jumping around on the sofa at home. Cannot entertain himself for 5mins (unless it's something sensory - glow sticks in a dark room has been a recent life saver. As has making slime). You're not alone!

My son was exactly the same. I was stick thin because I took him on long walks every single day, bike rides, parks and swimming. I did not allow him to jump on furniture though.
He was cycling two miles to and from school every day at the age of four and swimming in a club four times a week at the age of six. He still thinks he’s wasted the day if he’s up after 0700!

You’ve described DS to a point. I wish I could ‘not allow’ him to do something.

Dont you wish you could just tap into it though? Imagine everything that would get done

Have anyone tried a weighted blanket. It can help dull down the sensory seeking a little bit. Trampetts with a handle can help focus the jumping about on the settees.

Nothing. Nothing would get done. Because he has zero ability to sit still or focus on anything for more than a couple of minutes, tops.

Tried this level of activity - still doesn't work. All that happens is that I am more knackered and he's still got so much energy. Nothing 'burns' it off, and once he's eaten it's even worse.

Mine is 3 and like Tigger. I like it that he’s so active to be fair. He could also be ADHD. We know he’s very likely autistic.

Well kids do. If we could suck it out of them to fuel us though.

My middle kid has ADHD and we called him the Tasmanian devil when he was young. He used to rip through the house from the minute he got up. He had to be exercised like a dog.

My youngest DS was like this at that age. In his case, he was just ready for school & nursery & toddler groups were no longer stimulating enough for him. It wasn't so much a physical need as intellectual, he has always been very quick to learn. He is 10 now & similar, as he is ready for senior school. We combat it with board games, science kits, reading, Duolingo & a new hobby (football)!

He had to be exercised like a dog

I am not saying you are doing this but I hate this as it non too subtly puts the blame on the parent and let’s face it the mother. They are not meeting their child’s needs by lack of exercise therefore it is their fault.

DS has been to two parties today.

Meant to say, my DS2 actually does have ADHD & what we see with him is an inability to hear or follow instructions or stay focussed on things, rather than a need to be moving.

Chances are he does have ADHD, but don't worry about it as it's not all bad!

If you can get a diagnosis and some support, it will really help.

Who's talking about blame? Are you saying someone is to blame for your kid having too much energy?

And my kids 25 now with his own family. He can walk himself these days.

4 year old DS spent 2 hours charging round soft play this morning with his cousin then went to a party this afternoon. In between, he flits and runs around the house and doesn’t stay still. He will only sleep 10 hours tonight absolute max. It is exhausting! I think some kids are just a lot more relentless than others. I also worry about his inability to relax. Down time doesn’t exist in this house!

No. I thought I was clear enough to be honest but I’ll try again. What I’m saying is that the comparison to a dog doesn’t really work, as it implies he isn’t being ‘exercised’: he is, more so than any other child I know. It doesn’t tire him out, if anything it gets him more and more energetic and worked up.

I don’t think the PP was talking about blame. She’s just saying she’s found the right parenting style for her son, and it involves lots of outdoor exercise. Some children need that.

Well, yes - I mean it’s a bit obvious surely, like saying ‘my child is always hungry’ ‘I’ve found feeding mine helps!’

Try to put feeling a bit prickly and defensive to one side a minute. There is no blame with this sorts of stuff. When you're in the middle of it it feels never ending . It's simply finding a way of navigating it the best you can. With my youngest who has ASD it was water. Either swimming or bath time. I swore he was going to shrivel up due to the amount of time he spent in water.

There used to be a poster on here called BoysAreLikeDogs and honestly when my DS was younger as long as he had plenty of fresh air, a ball to run off his energy and a constant supply of food he was happy

My son is like this. Literally never still.
Even while playing minecraft he's stood up and dancing about.
I think he gets energy from sucking it directly from my soul.

DD is like this, I actually raised it with two teachers, they think she’s NT just extremely active. She can’t even sit still while watching tv. She has no problem focusing so I think even if she were ND it doesn’t seem to be impacting her academically. Try swimming lessons, that worked for a bit on mine, we basically schedule in a lot of activity where we can sit down, she does 6 hours of sporty clubs on top of general running around and lots of walking.