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?

[Sandman2]

     How old is he?  
  First, you can't even think about natural remedies if you don't know what the problem is.
     Second, meds are always your choice (and there are many), getting help for your son should not be your choice.   There are many behavioral strategies to try and many ways that a school can help your son if he does get diagnosed with ADHD! But you don't know what to do unless you know what the problem is.  
    I repeat - no one can force meds on him.
    Also, he does show some signs of sensory integration disorder.  That is not treated with meds, but by an occupational therapist.
    So I have included two sites to check out.  The first is for SIDS and the second is for ADHD.
       http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/sensory-processing-disorder-checklist.html
       http://www.help4adhd.org/en/about/what/WWK1
      And finally, I have seen lists of things in the diet to avoid.  But, in the 6 or more years on this site - I have never had a parent report any natural remedy that helped (nor have I seen any research to support that).  And I should add - that like meds, your child would need much more help then some magical pill.

[Sissyraelynn]

Thank you for posting ur story ! Im having around the same problems with my son to.. He just started wrestling ,an he is the one that wanted to go into it so im not thinkin that he dont like it ,but I have been watching him at practice an he has been kinda in another world when it is time to be learning something ! I catch his attention an remind him to listen ,an he will for just a sec an then go straight back to looking around or talking to a friend ect . He has been getting in trouble in school for chewing on pencils ,erasers,ect im just really gttn concerned ! Also he is simular at home an around friends with not listening an not knowing when to stop acting crazy ! Please someone help me ! Ive thought about checkin with a doc about.adhd but I really wanted meds to be my last resort so if anyone has any natural  
Remedies to try please let me kno asap thanks ,stephanie

[Sandman2]

      You might want to visit his class and see how the kids are disciplined.  Sometimes, what the teacher or aide does is not very effective (especially if it is a large class).  If all they do is say NO, a sharp kid will eat them alive.
       Did he go to a preschool or is this is his first year in a large school/class setting?   Also curious if you have a younger child at home (say between one and two) as sometimes this can also cause some attention getting things at home.
     Finally, you can't do much about what is going on at school.  But you can control things at home.  But I am not sure what is going on at home.   There is a good chance that what he is doing is not due to what he has eaten (always slightly possible), but rather more to being a fairly sharp 6 year old boy who is trying to control his little world.

[rebgold]

My 6 yr old son has many of these same issues.  None of them were a problem until he started school.  Now behavior has started to be a problem at home too.  It's just escalated weekly since school started and started to carry over.  He has a wonderful, patient, caring teacher and also a para for his kindergarten room who is also a lovely woman with 4 children of her own.  I know the problem doesn't stem from how is he treated in school, but it's just getting crazier and crazier.  He punched another kid at latchkey!  He's hilarious and adorable and loving, still sits on my lap and cuddles.  
The first round of school testing placed him in the 90th percentile, so of course he's smart.  All these kids with behavior issues are smart it seems.  My crazy little genius got kicked out of kindergarten yesterday for bad behavior!  
What is going on with these kids?  How was most of this not an issue 30 yrs ago when we went to school?  I feel it's going to end up being something we've all eaten, pesticides, food coloring, artificial vanilla flavor, (I don't really think it's the vanilla), I just keep wondering what is making our children so different in this decade?  

[Sandman2]

      There is a lot more to dealing with ADHD then medication.  If you do think that he might have ADHD, I suggest you buy the book (its only about $10 on Amazon)  "The ADD/ ADHD Answer book," by Susan Ashley.   It will give you lots of non-medicine ways to help your child.  It also will help you decide if he might have ADHD and tell you how to get help from the schools if it is needed.

[momzdoll]

you are righ .my son is 7 yr old and he cant stay still,he talk alot and he has truble making frinds..he do not listens  to me at all..but when he was little baby he was super cute and happy baby .,never got sick ,good eater ,good sleeper..zero troble kid..but now he is growing with behavior problams..though he help me alot in house hold chores but he runs in the mall,push in the partys.he is very emotional sweet boy who crys while watching movie.but he has no friends..i googeld alot and thought he has adhd problam ..but my hubby was angry with me he said i am not going to the doctor. he is energetic little boy..he has lots of energy all kids are like that ..i will never give him any medication for his behaviour ..good part is my son is super inteligent,he help his 6 year old brother with home work and all..so we will give him love and find a way to make him understan than medication.