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Is this a normal 3.5 yr old or is he hyperactive? Attention deficit? Am i mad to consider help

31 replies

notcopingatall · 24/08/2011 08:21

DS is 3 1/2 and still driving us crazy. DD is 6 and has always been pretty easy to deal with, sensitive, kind and no trouble. Bit stroppy and odd tantrums at 3 but nothing unusual.

DS is now the middle child (brother is 18months) so MIL and mine keep saying 'it's because he's a middle child' Hmm He wasn't great at 2 before his brother came along.

He seriously has a problem following simple instructions....get your socks from your drawer results in him bouncing on his sisters bed, having passed by his own room on the way. Giving him some toilet roll to wipe a runny nose results in the toliet roll thrown around the room and ripped to pieces, while the nose is still running. Punching his sister for no reason, leaping, roaring, poking and hitting the baby. Bouncing around shops, throwing toys around the house for the sake of it. He's started pulling his pants down and flashing people on play dates and thinks it's very amusing. I sound like a broken record 10 times a day, every day every week saying the same things over and over again.

He does not appear angry and when told off, or explained to that his behaviour is unacceptable he smiles. He is not daft but I'm wondering if he is hyperactive or has some attention issues. He never sits still, doesn't stop talkingm makes stupid noises. Short clear instructions are given repeatedly and he just goes off on his own agenda.

We've tried cutting additives from his food, praise and one-to one attention, sticker charts. Over the summer he's got worse and we resorted to putting him in his room to calm down. So he trashed his room in the 5 minutes he was in there. It sounds trivial written down, but it's constant.

I try to keep him very busy and active. Give him creative tasks to do such as lego, painting etc

This summer has been a nightmare and I can't wait for nursery to start so i get a few hours away from him. As much as i love him i feel like running away.....

OP posts:
ripstheirthroatoutliveupstairs · 25/08/2011 10:35

Top advice Rosemary, in fact OP, why not smash him on the head with the phone book every time he looks at you Hmm.
Honestly, I will be glad when the children go back to school. Grow up.
OP, you sound at the end of your bit of string, I honestly hope it gets better for you.

notcopingatall · 25/08/2011 18:03

I have felt like slapping him to be honest, but we don't do smacking in our house. And I also threatened to shove a his dinner down his throat yesterday Blush after he wound me up so much at teatime.

Today I tried to be happy, mummy, calm and amusing, and ignoring...but by 1pm, after 7hours of him I lost it and yelled. Have since managed a couple of hours away from him and am feeling more positive.

These bloody holidays with no nursery, schoolruns or playgroups.....roll on september when we get our routine back. I think we're all getting a bit sick of the sight of each other which blows things massively out of proportion!

OP posts:
petisa · 26/08/2011 00:04

My dd1 who's 3.4 years can be a bit like you describe OP, but to a lesser extent. It's exhausting, I feel for you. No real advice as I am stumped too, sick of repeating we don't hit, hitting hurts, and getting a smile, sick of shouting and the bloody naughty step. Have smacked a few times recently too, to my shame. Didn't make any difference either. Agree, roll on September!

rotool · 26/08/2011 18:35

It does get better as they get older, ds3 is 5.5 and although can still have his moments is an angel compared to what he has been like in the last 3 years.
The only thing I found helped him was being occupied 24 7,mostly by me so I know how hard it is for you.
I stayed out of the house as much as possible during the day and occupied him at home helping me cook/clean and doing endless puzzles and lego building.
He hated pre-school as he was bored without structure but he started school last year and is loving the structure and learning. He is playing schools with his brother right now in full school uniform!!
Why not put him in nursery full time if you can afford it? Don't feel guilty,not all kids are the same and not all kids are easy to be around however much we love them!
I feel for you and I hope things get better V soon.

RosemaryandThyme · 27/08/2011 19:05

"He punches his sister...and hits the baby.."

Seriously I know everyone is agast at the thought of smacking a child, but there is an other school of thought (admitedly not popular at the moment) that advocates pre-planned physical contact as a form of child behaviour training.
This is not the same as hitting or smacking in anger in any way.
A way of thinking of it would be that until the OP's child feels what it is like to receive a semi-surprise slap (ie they have been warned that it is coming but do not think they will actually be smacked) they will not realise the effect they have on another person (here the sister or baby).
For the vast majority of children they learn not to hit or slap the very first time they themselves are on the reciving end of it.
I'm not sure I've expalined this concept very well, and I appreciate it comes left-of-field, but it might be worth rading up on and considering.

mrsbleasdale · 27/08/2011 22:34

I see where you're coming from. How do you explain and prove it hurts if they don't feel the same. I've done a very tame version of prodding constantly for a minute (and gently but very irritating) to prove to him how annoying it must be for the baby to have that done to him. It worked!

Did a 10min time out today - don't think he thought we'd go through with it. Different boy ever since!

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