3 Year Old -What is Normal Behavior?

[ZYZ]

We have a 3 year old that has the following issues. We are not sure if this is normal 3 year old behavior or a deeper issue we need to address. We currently have a 6 year old that never went through any "terrible" ages. So we can't gauge if our now 3 year old is normal. Please help us and make any suggestions, we are at the point of having her tested, but its our last resort.

1. Has a ton of over-energy
2. Talks fast and has trouble completing sentances
3. Always on the move, never slows down
4. Craves sweets
5. Eats a meal then says shes hungry 1/2 hour later (we feed her vegetables, meat - a balanced meal). Sweets are very rare in our house.
6. Extreme anger moods - can happen at anytime. we found that anytype of sugars- including natural can trigger this within a 1/2 hour.
7. She has always had trouble sleeping
8. Moods consist of kicking, hitting, screaming NO, and screaming at the top of her lungs for long periods of time. Timeouts end up with her kicking the back of the door the whole time.
9. Quite when meeting new people
10. Funny, Silly, Smart, Beautiful
11. Takes 2 hours on an average to get her to slow down enough to fall asleep at night
12. Very Clingy
13. Plays well by herself and in a group
14. Likes dare-devil things - but she does them well
15. Very coordinated, strong and athletic
16. Second Child and LAST!

HELP!

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

It is possible that your daughter's activity level is beyond the normal spectrum, but this can be difficult to gauge because of her age. Time will tell if development and the maturation of her neurological system brings about some change. Is there a family history, anywhere on your or your spouse's sides, of either hyperactivity or mood disorder? Some of what you decribe can be typical of children who exhibit juvenile onset bipolar disorder, but this is both a controversial issue and one which can be quite difficult to pin down in a three-year-old. Doe she attend pre-school/daycare? If so, how us she in such an out-of-home setting? In general, does she do better in out-of-family settings than she does within the family (if so, it would tend to argue against the presence of mood disorder)? In short, her behavior is not typical of a child her age, but whether it is symptomatic of a neurointegrative condition or a mental/emotional disorder is not clear. It would not hurt, and might be very helpful, to pursue an evaluation by a child psychologist. You would derive some useful guidance, at the very least.

[Dawndelion]

Some of the items on your list seem very extreme. But I am the mother of an ADHD child and other things on your list sound much like what I have gone through with my son. I would seek out a Pediatrician that specializes in testing for ADHD. The items on you list that stand out most is the mood swings and addiction to sugar. I have also been told that some food coloring causes hyperness and mood levels to swing. My son can eat chocolate all day long but give him skittles or sprinkles with confectionate sugar and he is bouncing. I have been told Protein is great for children, hyper or not. The is also another diagnosis that I have been given for my son that generaly goes along with children who have ADD or ADHD or both. It is called Acute Adult Dissobedient Disorder(i believe that is the term) It is where the children believe in their minds 100% that they are the adult and are right and there is nothing you can say or do to make them change there mind. I know it sounds silly, but check it out. I found a great Pediatrician in my area who specializes in Children with Dissorders and Allergies. Best of luck to you. And never forget lots of hugs and kisses for her. Remember she is only a child of 3. All my best to you.

[makaylah]

A related discussion, Does my 3 year old have a mood disorder? was started.