What can we do to get our 8 year old grandson to listen?

[Waddawee]

Our 8 year old grandson has always been very active and rebellious, unwilling to mind us and acting out. He was going to public school until recently when every day he went he would be sent home because he threw up and would not be allowed back the next day because of the throwing up policy. Our daughter and us decided to try home school with him but things are getting worse each day. We have been trying this for 3 weeks now and have only been able to accomplish 2 days of school work. The work is not hard for him and the way the online studies are set up are interesting and fun. He refuses to even consider doing the school work and has now started fighting us, hitting us with his hands and throwing objects at us. I am not new to the home school scene as I have done this with his older brother for the past 8 years. I have tried having him decide which lessons to do that day, creating a reward chart, and allowing him to have the necessary breaks, there is always an adult with him while attempting to do the lessons. No matter how hard we try or how early we get him up in the morning and keep him busy all day he will not go to sleep at night. We are lucky if after trying every thing we can think of from 8 pm on if he is asleep by 3 am. This is completely wearing us out and we feel we are at witts end. Any suggestions and help would be greatly appreciated.

[AnnieBrooke]

Just to say, our school has a 24-hour policy on both throwing up and on diarrhea.  I don't think it's that uncommon (in other words, our school district is not very cutting-edge on health issues or anything).

[Sandman2]

   Wow, never heard of a throwing up policy at elementary school and I was an elementary school principal. Usually we tried to deal with what was making him throw up.
    Anyway,  you need professional help.  I am also the CL on the ADHD forum.  Based on prior experience and my years at elementary school - sounds like a severe case of anxiety.  And I am guessing that it is due to having ADHD.  The not going to sleep at night is a good symptom as is all your descriptions of him.   Obviously, what you have tired has not worked.  You need to find out if he has ADHD.  There are many things that you can do for him if you know what the problem is.   Yes, medication will help, but there is a lot that you can do without using meds.
     Some links that may help you"
  http://helpguide.org/articles/add-adhd/attention-deficit-disorder-adhd-in-children.htm
    http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/11181.html?utm_source=eletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=February
     http://www.chadd.org/Portals/0/AM/Images/Understading/AUG01AngerOverloadinChildren-DiagnosticandTreatmentIssues.pdf
    Let me know if you have any questions.

[RockRose]

Why are you so heavily in the picture with both grandsons?  Is his dad there for him at all?