I am worried about my friends DS.
He is 6 years old and quite an angry little boy.
His parents split when he was a very young baby but both parents are very much involved in his life and he spends lots of time with his Dad (and his family) not sure exactly how much but every other week and during the week too. Anyway, I digress...
He had some problems at school at the end of last year with a younger boy bullying/picking on him at school, the parents spoke to the teachers at the time who 'kept an eye on it' but since then his behaviour has got progressively worse - shouting so much at my friend and kicking out/hitting. The main problem that I can see is that he doesn't seem to get punished for it or even told off - just asked very calmly to "stop doing that"
If that was my DS he would be on the step till he calmed down and then spoken to about what he was doing wrong and then possibly have a toy taken away for a week.
I tried to suggest this to my friend (very gently, as I didn't want to appear like a know all) but she replied that she "doesn't blame him as it isn't his fault it is in him from his Dad"
She had spoken to the Dad and he seems to think that the boy isn't like it at his house, so she asked the boy why he wasn't like it with Daddy and he replied that he didn't want Daddy to shout at him. To me it seems like he is disciplined at his Dad's so doesn't bother playing up so much.
To her it is because he has anger issues and scares him into behaving.
She is now taking the boy to the GP as she thinks he needs anger management (at 6??) or to be diagnosed with ADHD. She doesn't want the Dad at the GP's cause she wants to be able to speak freely with GP without him taking over.
I am worried that it is just that she needs to be a stronger parent and he will end up with a rushed/pushed by her diagnosis and be on drugs that he doesn't need.
Is there a way in the diagnosis process where this would be picked up?? and would she be offered additional parenting classes - or will he just add to the thousands of labelled kids???
Obviously there is every possibility that it could be ADHD, but she just seems to be trying to blame his behaviour on someone/something else.....