How can I help DS1 (nearly 5) to calm down?

[NotQuiteCockney]

DS1 has a hard time concentrating. He's sometimes a bit hyper. I don't think he needs medicating or anything, but I'd like to help him calm down and focus a bit more. Does anyone have any suggestions?

(I was thinking about a bit of relaxation/meditation stuff, maybe?)

I have a CD called 'Relax Kids' which has a woman reading out very short meditations/visualizations with background of music. It's really nice, our DS even likes - he is 3 - and we often play in the evening before he goes to bed. I like myself. It is especially designed for young kids. You can get it on amazon I think.

oops...i meant 'I like it myself'....

Oooh, that's a good idea. I'll go look for it.

I might try some massage tonight, although I'm thoroughly knackered and a bit fed up with DS1. As he's been (shocker) not listening. Again.

we've got the 'Nature' Relax Kids - I think there's 4. I think it's the best one.

The massage thing went well, even though he said, ahead of time that I had to do it in the bath, as he'd seen massage done on tv, and it was done in the bath. Finally (I think) we worked out that he'd seen someone being soaped up etc, and thought that's what I meant?

Anyway, it was good, we had a nice chat and had some proper relaxed time. I think I'll do that agian.

Glad the massage was good, NQC.

Gigwig, are the cds American?

(hopes NQC will understand that I do not want visualisations in a US accent. A Canadian accent would be just fine, of course )

NQC, I have what I call a hundred-mile-an-hour boy, always on the go, finds it hard to concentrate on anything unless it really grabs his attention (like PS2, which DH pushed for, i didn't want it yet).

At school, in Reception last year it wasn't brought to our attention, I guess because it's more learning through play at that level, but he is now coming to the end of Y1 and it was a real struggle for the teacher for the first two terms, not just with ds, there are other boys who find concentrating difficult, but two-thirds of the class are boys and most are 'young', i.e. Spring/Summer.

Teacher introduced a star chart for ds, with an incentive to play in the golden room/sensory room when he achieved 10 stars, which worked well. He also was a terrible fidget when the class had to sit on the carpet, distracting other children, fiddling with his hands. Basically he was uncomfortable and the solution was to put him on a beanbag!