ADDHD or Normal 7 year old Boy Behavior

[AKR1]

I'm concerned that my 7-year old son could have borderline ADDHD but at the same time, could this just be normal 7 year old boy behavior? When seeing him play baseball for instance, he loses focus on the field (can't stay in the "ready" position, rolls around in the grass, always looking around himself and not at the game), is constantly "goofing" around in the dugout and doesn't seem to listen to the coaches instructions. I don't see any of his teammates acting in the same manner. At home, he has a hard time listening and following instructions, we have to tell him several times to do or not to do something, he interrupts my husband and my conversation, changes subjects when talking mid-stream, and has a tendancy to be very talkative at times. When playing with friends, he never knows when to "stop" goofing around, often to the frustration of some of his friends. However, having said all of this, he is doing well with his schoolwork (I never struggle with homework issues), has a good focus with his piano lessons and has plenty of friends at school. He never has had serious discipline issues at school and the teachers/coaches/principal say he's a very sweet boy that is well liked. However, in seeing a lot of the other boys in his class, my son appears more immature and rather impulsive. Would you consider the above behavior typical for a 7 year old boy or could he possibly have symptoms of ADDHD?

[Louiseemaxwell]

Calm down. don't beat yourself up.

really look at what is going on in your lives. When you are with your son, be present with him - don't make dinner, don't have tv or radio on. Demonstrate to him what it is like to be present, to listen to hear and to reflect.

Once you model this behaviour and these skills, he will follow. It will start with you.

[Louiseemaxwell]

Don't be so quick to label your kids with ADD.  I was the same with my son at first, but the truth is we are teaching our bright kids to divide their focus and attention all the time. This learned behaviour is them played out in the classroom and other activities. Your kid may just have learned to divide his attention across a multitude of activities, or expect a wide range of information from a number of sources.

We looked at home for the culprits - us!  we had the TV on during breakfast and dinner, and were still asking questions like 'Have you packed your school bag or how was your day.  Once we switched dinner to the dinner table and had the first 5mins of the meal no talking, our children were better able to focus on the activity in hand only, instead of dividing their attention constantly.

[melas]

my sons behaviour has gone down hill in the last 2 yrs. he is very aggressive towards me and his dad he does act out at scool but mostly at home he throws things and when they break he say i didn't mean it. i went to the docs last november about this and they have sent a letter to the hospital but we still waiting 4 a reply.. yesterday he pushed one of his teacher and has been given internal exclusion which he doesn't seem to care i am very worried about my 2 daughters safety when he does have one of his moments. should i get in contact with the doc again and demand that she does something about it as i am at the end of my tether with him.... when he is gd he very gd...

[Sandman2]

       As a retired elementary school principal, I can't believe that a teacher would be sending a kindergarten child to the principals office rather than working with the child.  Have you ever visited the classroom to see what is going on?
      Anyway, I also am the CL here - http://www.medhelp.org/forums/ADD---ADHD/show/175    ; Why not post here and we will have a discussion about the possibility of ADHD as he does show some of the symptoms.
     Oh, when did he turn 6?

[caseygirl1982]

This all looks so familiar. My son Logan is 6 yrs old. He's having so much trouble in school. It started in PreK not paying attention not taking naps and they'd put him in the hall alone :( Now in kindergarten he has trouble listening to direction, paying attention, he makes alot of loud noises repetitively when he gets annoyed or confused. Logan is so smart and sweet most of the time but really has this agressive other side to him. I hate to see him struggling so much. And the teacher is no help because she just gives him bad colors and sends him to the principals office. Our kids are not programed robots they are not all going to act the same that doesn't make them bad kids. I've wondered if Logan should be diagnosed with something I dont know if that would help or not. Maybe they'd try to understand and work with him differently? Good luck everyone. Good or bad ,rotten or sweet they are our children we must love them unconditionally and treat them with respect and patience.

[Sandman2]

   They could just be repeating what they observe from your daughters.  If you have concerns definitely talk with your doctor.  The sooner it is dealt with the better for the child.