My 3 year old son

[Austysmom]

My 3 year old son hasn't been diagnosed with ADHD or anything, but his doctor and I are concerned...as are family members and his preschool teachers.  He is extremely active!!!  He's always been more active than other children his age.  I thought ADHD, and his doctor wants to do a psych eval to see if that's where we are, but the thing is...he has a LOT of down time!  At home, and on schedule, he's fine.  He's calm and isn't running around doing crazy things.  He is just a normal 3 year old doing normal 3 year old things.  But when we are out in a crowd doing something special as a family, he seems to get revved up and can't seem to calm down.  I mean -- he's not jumping around and bouncy while we are there, but he gets that way eventually and then once we get home he can't seem to come back down from his "crowd buzz" no matter how late it is.  If we have friends over, it's the same thing...he doesn't normally hit his sister, but if she has a friend or friends over, he hits and harrasses her and her friends -- no matter how many times he is punished for it.  When he goes to my mom's house, where it is bright and vibrant and noisy with the tv, he does strange things - like dump a bucket of popcorn all over the floor and then throw and scatter it everywhere just to do it. (He also does these things when my daughter is getting more attention that he is or when he is not being watched directly.  I call that attention seeking behavior and don't count that in these behaviors that I am talking about) When he goes to my neighbor's house, where she keeps the drapes drawn, most of her lights off, and her tv at a dull roar, he's fine and calm.  

I'm starting to think it's not ADHD...but need a second opinion before I take my thoughts to the pediatrician.  I am not going to say here what my thoughts are (but I am an early intervention specialist -- it's hard to see these things in your own children!!!).  I want an unbiased opinion.  Thank you!

[margypops]

Wanted to share something with you I have read in a local Rog, a good one, A recent study suggests 'Food Supplement Treatment of ADHD may be equal efficacy to Ritalin treatment" All children and especially those with Learning difficulties, benefit from a multi-vitamin -mineral supplement with antioxidants,B Compex and VitaminC.

[margypops]

Your 3year old son sounds like an exubrant child, on reading your Post he mostly gets Revved up when he is in Company  and possibly he is trying to get more attention that way,the instance of his interaction with his sister when she has friends over indicates this to me, he sees them playing and wants to join in, maybe they dont want him to,as he is a little Kid and it could Bore them, all Normal reaction of course,Ask your Daughter to let him play for a while then she should tell him thats enough its now our turn to play. I dont think Punishment is warrented here at all, he is trying to join in.Have you thought on the occasions she has friends over is there a little Pal he could have play also, the other thing is can she play in her room and then he is not there.