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

That's normal energy levels for his age, not ADHD.

Get a trampoline

We’ve got one.

Sympathy (see username). DC (a little younger than yours) is just constantly moving, risk seeking, and requiring monitoring.

Other parents, health workers, etc. sometimes seem to think that we don't parent, but we can't change DC's entire personality. Yes, I know my kid is a handful. I have not slept through the night in years and am borderline underweight from chasing them and having my meals non-stop interrupted.

No advice really. We try to keep sugar limited and do lots of home cooking. But that is more for general health than with behaviour in mind. We also do not let DC view any fast and flashy tv. Bing and Teletubbies are the most 'extreme' things watched. We have a weighted blanket as well, which was ok for a bit, but now gets rejected. We have no idea if any of this helps DC, but at least it won't harm.

I really, desperately wish DS would watch TV.

He does sleep at least, he is fine in that respect.

Obviously I love him. But the constant constant noise and movement and treading on things and jumping off things and climbing on things and wiggling out of things takes its toll.

My kids were like this as toddlers. Still are at 6&7. School only increases their energy levels. They don't go to sleep until 9pm either, no matter what they've done that day.

They suck their energy directly from me.

I can't give any tips apart from coffee between 8-7 and wine thereafter.

I have one like this. I am still suspicious he has adhd . Things felt easier when he started training a lot for a specific sport and things clicked at school, sort of around 8.

He still has high energy levels but I dont have to keep up anymore. So maybe that's what I mean by got easier. He has 3 jobs on top of college and sports training.

It really isn't.

We have five kids so I have something to compare to.

Energy is only one tiny secgrion of an ADHD profile so stand down on tgst one for now, OP. Think about some mentally enriching activities, songs, interactive games etc. my own children were similar but calmed around 7/8. You’ll survive but it’s not easy!