Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Is this ADHD and if so do I need to do anything

9 replies

Muddytoes1 · 07/02/2020 20:04

Dd age 4 has always been super hyperactive but I always thought it was because she was a toddler and assumed it was normal. As she is getting older I’m starting to feel this is more than normal young child energy levels. She can’t be still, ever. I have started putting her back in a high chair at meals just to keep her in one place. If she’s at home it is like a tornado is in the house with her hurling herself off the stairs and charging around the place talking a million miles an hour. She really doesn’t like to play by herself and gets bored with activities really quickly. It’s so exhausting. She’s also prone to aggression and we’ve had lots of hitting and kicking although this has eased up over the last few weeks. The way I manage when she’s not at nursery is to just take her out to a park or open space and run her round to try and burn off the energy or take her swimming but it doesn’t seem to wear off. Bed time always difficult with her jumping all over the place. She does sleep well luckily. It feels like she possessed by some kind of energy force she can’t control. Is this something I should investigate further or just try and keep up? Nursery think she’s great which is reassuring but I wonder if they are just better set up for high energy kids. Would appreciate any thoughts. Thank you!

OP posts:
june2007 · 07/02/2020 20:11

I think if it were ADHD then the nursery would have some concerns. Worth discussing with child key worker and also your HV. Have you noticed anything to do with diet?I knew a mum who said her child might have ADHD, but said child was given energy drinks for breakfast and had to deal with mums rathe Chaotic love life. Needless to say we didn,t think it was ADHD that was the prob.

Jemma2907 · 07/02/2020 20:41

This sounds so similar to my ds who is currently being assessed at school (he will be 5 in June). Since he started nursery, various key workers said 'we've never known a child like him'. He never winds down. I remember him very young, around 18 months, he would bang his head against his cot to keep himself awake! He can survive on about 6 hours sleep and just never stops running, jumping, talking. Since he's started school, they've had issues as unless he's being given 1on1 attention, he immediately loses concentration. He has ongoing bi-weekly assessments as he is so young. They dont want to risk labeling him when it still could be immaturity. I csnt fault the school, they have a fab SEN dept. So if he does need the help, he will get it. Have you decided on a school for Sept? It might be that they will come to you once she has started if they think there is an issue. 4 is still so young, it's so hard to know for sure.

Muddytoes1 · 07/02/2020 20:42

Energy drinks! That’s crazy, and no definitely none of those here. I did wonder about diet and have had periods of a couple of weeks of cutting out sugary things to see if it was that but it didn’t make a difference. I will have chat with HV and see what they think.

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Muddytoes1 · 07/02/2020 20:47

Thanks @Jemma2907, yes just waiting to hear if she has got in. It maybe that she is just very energetic but I just wanted to make sure I was doing what I should be.

OP posts:
LittleDragonGirl · 07/02/2020 20:47

Also make sure to limit sugary drinks for things like cola which have caffeine! I would say it's still very young to say for sure, as it's not hugely unusual for a 4yo to have boundless energy! If the nursery haven't seen anything unusual it may be that the child is just either over tired and exhausted from focusing at nursery, or under stimulated at home? Usually for a diagnosis of adhd the behaviours have to be present at home and nursery/school/etc.
If possible you could try incorporating a child friendly sport or activity into the week (dance, martial arts, gymnastics, football, athletics, swimming etc) to try and burn some energy?

Herringbone31 · 07/02/2020 20:49

I’m goi f through the same with my eldest. She doesn’t ever sit still. I can’t even get her to sit still to eat food. Read a book. Not even for 10 seconds. I’ve tried. Her behaviour is also getting rather out there. She keeps throwing everything off her bed and growling. We’ve got an assessment at the end of March.

lilgreen · 07/02/2020 20:52

Ask the nursery more specific questions. Does she concentrate on tasks there or is she just running around the whole time? Will she cooperate with requests to help, to tidy,sit and listen to a story during quiet times. I work in primary education and have seen several chn with sen that nurseries have said they didn’t notice and it was immediately apparent to us.

Muddytoes1 · 07/02/2020 20:59

Thanks these are really helpful answers. @lilgreen that is a good idea to ask more specific questions. They hardly tell us anything, just “she’s had a great day and eaten well” is the standard.

OP posts:
lilgreen · 08/02/2020 08:18

There are nurseries and there are nurseries...

New posts on this thread. Refresh page