Hyperactive children

[Anothernamethesamegame]

I have 2 children age 8 and 9. Both are very physical and very active children. I try hard to get them lots of outside time, physical activity and eating well.

I am struggling with their behaviour at time. They have several periods a day where they get very “hyper”/“hyped up”. If we try to do things like go out for a family meal or play a board games it’s almost impossible because they cannot sit still, and end up running about, or pushing each other around. They’re not like it all the time but just at certain points they spike and it’s almost uncontrollable.

the Youngest I am seeking assessment for ADHD as she seems to have some possible related behaviours. Oldest isn’t like that but is very physics at times and needs lots of movement. Just seems a few times a day they spoke at the same time and it’s chaos. Or in certain environments (eg waiting rooms) it becomes apparent that they are unable to manage like other children their age.

Can anyone relate. Any suggestions.

Id just like to be able to do things like shop without them running around the shop, wait for the dentist without them rolling across the floor or play a board game without jumping on chairs.

Ive made them sound wild, but they’re really not it’s just a couple of times a day it spikes and/or in very quiet boring situations.

Does this sound the same as other children with ADHD?

Just placemarking as I have suspicions about my eldest’s behaviour.

My 9yo is the same. He probably does have ADHD (diagnosed by CAMHS consultant family member) but not affected his school work yet so not too big an issue.

No help really just sympathy.

Other children look so quiet and well behaved in comparison.

Sounds like my son, who has adhd. From the minute he gets up until he goes to he is on the move! Never walks anywhere has to run, never sits still has to move. Hugs OP definitely hard x

Sorry OP to hijack, but @ZenNudist and @princesspeppax please can I ask… we are curious whether my son has ADHD (he’s not at school yet so I think it’ll become clear one way or another then). Are your kids on the go all day every day? My son has really high highs and then seems to crash. He often falls asleep during the day. Usually if he’s forced to sit still like in the car or if I put him in front of the telly to try and get him to chill out.

Chews and fiddle toys help to a point when you really need them to sit and wait. That buys me about 10 minutes and I don’t stress about the fact that he’s also wriggling around on his chair, sitting sideways, one leg flailing, stand up, sit down, tap tap tapping and clicking his tongue I don’t have an answer really. We’ve managed to get to a point where we can get him to sit for about 30 minutes in a cafe/restaurant for a meal as long as we’re prepared to engage every minute. We have some conversation cards which he likes, small table games and colouring plus a fidget toy.

He’s in the system for an ADHD diagnosis, we just got the questionnaire this week. It’s really hard isn’t it, they’re just absolutel non stop and then you see someone else’s kid say colouring nicely for an hour while yours is swinging from the curtains and it brings it home!!

Yes mine are the same. They’re ok if constantly engaged, but it’s very tiring to be playing hide and seek, and other entertainment when eve we have to be still for more than 2 minutes.

@ReeseWitherfork mine never crashes, or naps during the day but he does settle very early at night and sleep throughs which seems to be to uncommon as when I chat to other families in our circumstances some of their kids are often up till all hours

Yes very like my DS7 OP, who has ADHD. He cannot wait with nothing to do, even today we were in a shopping centre waiting for his dad and sibling and he can’t just stand and wait. He’s like it in school, he needs occupying all the time.

@princesspeppax DS has always been a good sleeper! Since babyhood. He does have to be tired though, he had a rainy day of doing no exercise at MIL’s on Wednesday and he didn’t fall asleep until gone 8:30pm, unusual for him as on an active day he can sleep 7:30-6:30.

I had a toddler who I highly suspect will be diagnosed with ADHD at some point. He's not my first and I have a fair amount of experience with kids but he is next level and his behaviours tick a lot of the hyperactive and impulsiveness boxes. No advice OP, but you're not alone. I joke I've never found his off switch but in reality, it's exhausting. He's also easily triggered so he can go from 0-200 in about a second in terms of meltdowns over basically nothing, he struggles to handle frustration.