Hyperactivity - Bay City,MI

First of all I want to give you a big hug. I have a very active 13 year old, I also have a very quiet natured 11 year old boy. I have fought the school system for years because they pressured me to put my oldest on medication. We were not seeing these behaviors at home and the doctor did not agree with the school, he was evaluated and I was told he had some traits but was not ADHD. (I tell you this so you know not just the parents did not agree with the school) We have a very structured home and he has always been very verbal, loud but a happy and good child. I was threatened by social workers, a few of the teachers treated him horribly (the stories I could tell) and school was hard for him. I worked with his diet, made sure he always had enough sleep, got him into swimming, and fought his battles for years. I now have a 7th grader who is doing good, we still have a few organizational problems, not uncommon in middle school, but since 5th grade the classroom behavior is great. He is happy, healthy and well adjusted. The biggest scar is his distrust of the teachers. we did try to always take the teachers side in front of him when we could, but he still does not trust teachers and it is like pulling teeth to get him to talk to them. Socially he is doing good but unfortunally most of his friends are not elementary school kids. It was a very hard process, but I think we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnal, just in time for teen years.
You have to be your childs biggest supporter and advocate. no one else is going to take his best interest at heart. I think class size is too big and so teachers are trying to make it easier, I could not let my son be a casuality in this social problem. I will tell you it was not a journey for the faint of heart. I have cried many tears defending my child. just keep showing him the proper behaviors and he will get them.

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I bet he (like most boys) is a bodily kinestetic learner... Does the teacher understand the differences between learning styles? We are also coming off winter where the kids have been cooped up inside more than in summer...
Perhaps suggest to the teacher a bunch of things that he can do when he feels the urge to roam... Things like Jumping Jacks. Running in place for 2 minutes... jumping back and forth from point a to point b.
Yes, all the kids will want to do it... And if her teaching style is more of a logical style then it will seem to throw the whole room into disarray.

If he had ADHD it would show up at home also. Not just in school.

If it was a food issue it would show up at home also and not just in school.

It is getting to be the end of the school year. Is it really getting worse or is she just more sensetive to it because she has been around it consistently for the last few months?
Yes, in 1st grade the kids should know what is expected in school... But its 1st grade. Last year was K. A more hands on movement focused class...

How long has this teacher been teaching? Typically the longer the teacher has been dealing with kids the easier they juggle the learning styles.

Are there other kids in the class that have issues or are trouble makers that are making her seek out the usual and deem them unusual because of stress?

Resist labeling and medicating him unless it is a real issue... Not just a "teacher doesn't know how to handle it" issue.

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If you're not seeing the same behavior problems at home, it isn't ADHD. ADHD is a consistent problem at home and at school. ADHD medication can make a tremendous, wonderful difference in kids with ADHD, but only in kids who really have the condition. It's wise to have your son evaluated, but I think you will hear the same thing I've told you about ADHD. The doctors may help to direct you to the real cause of the problems.

If he's only showing these behaviors at school, it could be a number of other things, including not being challenged enough/being bored in class.

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I want to let you know that the school/teacher CANNOT legally require you to medicate your child. Please dont let them bully you. they are educators, not doctors. if he does indeed have adhd, you can request an iep meeting and get him special provisions in the classroom. good luck!

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K. - I am so impressed that you are doing so many good things already to try to address the school's concerns. As the mother of four boys, I am here to tell you that 7 year olds do NOT sit still for long periods of time without a tremendous amount of effort on their part. It is easier for some than for others, but there are ways you can make it easier for your son with natural, nutritional support. If you'd like specifics on what has worked for others to "manage" hyperactivity, feel free to send me a private message (probably best to include your regular e-mail address so I can contact you that way -- these reply boxes, wonderful though they are, don't work very well for the stuff I have to send :). The meds are always there if needed, but I applaud you for exploring other options first!
Blessings,
A.

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K.,

Because this behavior is only happening in school it makes me think the teacher is asking him to sit still for too long and he just can't. Many schools have shortened kids recess time and play time during the day so they can focus on federal government mandates (No Child Left Behind).

Ask about stretching exercises during the day. Does the teacher encourage the kids to stand up and stretch and move around the room every 20 or 30 minutes? As adults we need this movement, but children need it even more.

I also agree with Beth, if your son was experiencing ADHD or food issues, you would see this behavior at home. But, since you said he is only acting this way at school, then I would look to the school routine to see what could be changed to help him focus.

My son was also having real problems with sitting still in school in the first grade. We eventually pulled him from school and are homeschooling him now, but that is not an option for every family. Keep working with the teacher, principal, and occupational therapist to see if the four of you can develop a sensory program that works for your son. The teacher will have the most difficult challenge, to see that this program is implemented every day and will need to remember to watch your son closely during the day and remind him to do his exercises when he is over stimulated.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

C..

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I have heard good things about using an exercise ball instead of a chair in schools. Might be woth a shot.

Protein in the am for breakfast. Eggs, bacon, etc. SOLID protein. Lunch should have fruit, but he has to eat his protein first - a sandwhich with meat and cheese or my fav, Sunflowerseed butter with Agave nectar. WAY less sugar than jelly. No processed foods - nothing in bags or boxes....the chemicals in them can irritate the central nervous sytem. Ony water to drink. Basically get the sugar and refined carbohydrates out of the diet.

Sleep is also super important...make sure he's getting 10-12 hours of sleep at night for his age.

Supplements can include:
AM - Drenamin from Standrd Process to allow his adrenals some support
PM - Nordic Naturals ProOmega Junior and Lifetime or BlueBonnett CalMag (liquid). These both relax the nervous system naturally and allow for better sleep, which means a more alert and focused child in the am.

If this doesn't adequately do it, there are homeopathic remedies for ADHD that work, literally, overnight. Let me know if you have any questions.

Look at food colors. My son is a different child (and not for the better) if he has something with food coloring. Mostly Red 40 and yellows but you have to watch because they are in everything. We have also found that calming tabs help him when he has eaten something that makes him hyper. They are all natural and have no side effects like meds do.

I have worked with "energetic" kids my entire life. Right from my first volunteer position to my successful Family Coaching practice today. I will tell you that truly only two things make a difference in the behaviour of kids: # 1 The food they eat and #2 the structure they have.

1. Let's look at food. With the amount of C.R.A.P. (caffeine, refined sugar, additives and preservatives) that is in our food supply, it is a wonder how kids (and adults) can function at all. Brains require food to function. Our “food” industry is no longer food, our water is contaminated and our medical industry is trained to keep up sick. It is a vicious cycle. One that only education can get you and your family out of. Once food is taken care of number 2 is easy.
2. Structure: this is HUGE! If not for structure our world would be chaos. It is more so for the life of a child. A child needs to have structure, guidelines and most of all “ground rules” of what is acceptable and what is not. Remember, if the brain is not fed properly, then the body will not comply and negative behaviors follow.

When I start working with families the FIRST non negotiable is this:
http://liveitdontdiet.isagenix.com/us/en/isaleanshake_new... (no it is not only for weight loss…that is just a super side effect) If the family is serious about being better, they have to eat better. This is the best out there. Bar none, I have looked.

Once that non-negotiable is put into place FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY then and only then can other changes be made.

If you want different you have to be different. A few rules or “changes” here and there will not bring you the different results that you are seeking.

Would you like discuss more about how I can help your family?

B.
Family Success Coach
____@____.com

Let me start out by saying that I don't have a kid with ADD, but I do agree with the thought that often people medicate too quickly. I watch Dr. Phil and he often has a doctor on there named Dr. Frank Lawlis. He seems like such a compassionate soul! He wrote a book on ADD called the ADD Answer: How To Help Your Child Now. I've never read it, but Dr. Phil and Dr. Lawlis have done some shows on ADD and I think it makes sense. He talks a lot about diet and exercise too. It might give you some ideas. Good luck.

L.

Go to your local health food store, do you have an Apple Valley in Bay City?, talk to someone who is in the know. There are products that can be taken for ADHD and also his diet- you might be missing a food-- foods with red dye, wheat, eggs, milk--also check your library for info.

My daughter has ADHD. I know you don't want to medicate, but the medication my daughter is on is Ritalin. She takes one dose in the morning b4 school and one at noon and it is worn off by the time she comes home. She does not get it in the evening, on the weekends or at all during the summer. It is not something she has to constantly be on. Good Luck. :)

Before accepting meds, visit the classroom for a few days and determine the talents his teacher exhibits in teaching boys. Do a very careful study of side effects and long term effects physically on your son's brain development. More and more studies are showing risky effects. Teachers who have personality clashes with individual children can severely impact learning and children's overall happiness even at home.