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Help me help 4yo DS slow down

10 replies

BikeRunSki · 26/02/2013 22:03

I have a 4. 5 yo DS and a 16 month old DD. DS missed going to school by a few days this academic year (his birthday is the first week of September). I am not sure if this is relevant. He has always been very, very active, but not in a controlled kind of way, it's not like he will spend an hour kicking a ball around then sit still for a bit. It's more an exhausting, continuous low level kind of activity - running across the room, fidgeting, fiddling, spinning round in his chair, waggling his feet etc. Even when I am putting him to bed he is practically spinning under the covers. It doesn't see to matter how tired he is. Ironically, when it comes to going for a walk or bike ride he is very lazy.

He's recently started saying that there are wheels in his head that keep spinning and spinning. I asked him if he can slow them down. He said sometimes they slow down but he can't make them do so. Also, sometimes the "Naughty Wheel" spins so fast it flys off! I try and make him sit still and count slowly to 10, but he is so obsessed with winning and speed that he just can't do it very often.

Can anyone suggest any ways to help him slow down?

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MrsMushroom · 26/02/2013 22:18

I reccomend martial arts. Ninjitsu is very good and for children who need to reign themselves in, it's excellent.

It teaches them to harness their powers...and of course to win and succeed in all things...not only in Ninjitsu!

BikeRunSki · 26/02/2013 22:22

Funnily enough, I have looked into Martial Arts, but havn't been able to find anything that fits around work/nursery/DD/DH long hours~working away.

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MrsMushroom · 26/02/2013 22:32

Ah right...there are some Martial Arts classes geared towards familys but DD is too young...I wonder if you could leave her with someone else if you could find a class like this? And then go along with DS?

BikeRunSki · 26/02/2013 22:46

We went to a family one before DD could walk, but DS went off it when he was obvioulsy the eldest in the group (not only is he very old in his year group, he is very, very tall and the rest of the group were teeny 2 yo olds) and now DS won't enetertain the idea of anything that is for "babies". The same club does an early evening class for scchool age children, but DD is a disaster after 6.30 pm at the latest and DH is often enough away to no make plans on him being here. I'm not deliberately being difficult, it's just something I have looked and looked and looked at with frustration! And no one really to leave her with at that time.... she needs to be getting ready for bed, no local family.

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BikeRunSki · 28/02/2013 21:01

Anyone else any ideas which I can do at home ?

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Stephanie16 · 28/02/2013 21:13

In the same situation with my 5 year old, I have heard of eye q tablets so I am giving this a go Equazen it is called and it is supposed to calm and help to focus.

Iggly · 28/02/2013 21:22

Park? Garden?
Ds loves and I mean loves being in the garden. Give him a spade, watering can and toys amd patch of mud and he'll play for hours. He doesn't much like walking but can bounce off the walls if he's indoors too much and will be wired. It's like he needs to release energy.

What about preschool for him? Use the free 15 hours?

BikeRunSki · 28/02/2013 21:25

Oh he gets his free hours - I went back to work 3 days a week when he was 1, and he continued when I was on ML with DD. He does like pottering around the garden, hopefully we'll have more time out there soon.

Eye Q, i'll give that a go.

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Iggly · 28/02/2013 21:29

What's the preschool like? Do they let him out? Ours is free flow and they do sports so he can get out.

You can still get out now just wrap up! Ds used to drag me out when dd was tiny last January/Feb and likes going out even now. Yesterday before bedtime he wanted to get out Hmm

BikeRunSki · 28/02/2013 21:50

They go out everyday at nursery (daycare and preschool is same place, as our village has no actual preschool). He is very reluctant at times to go out at home, but enjoys himself once he is out. DD sleeps v little and I am exhausted, sometimes I just can't bring myself to fight about it Blush

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