child cant sit still . am I paranoid?

[lils450]

My 4 year old daughter is on the go from early morning until 1 or even 2 o, clock at night. Generally id say her behaviour is normal. I wouldnt say she is naughty.  Just soo hyperactive. She cant sit still for long and its hard to get her to focus for long so she cant read or write anything yet. Shes a very sensitive little girl who likes things done a certain way. We try to tire her out but it doesn't work  . She has a routine but bo signs of her winding down. Is there a problem I havnt picked up on?

[specialmom]

Well, that is really good news.  My active boy had a hard time in preschool.  Maybe your daughter is just a busy bee and doesn't need as much sleep and rest as other kids.  all could be just fine as the lack of sleep and hyperactivity doesn't really seem to be inhibiting her.  

Just keep your eye on it.  She's getting older and perhaps more sports activities will serve her well ---  swim lessons, soccer, gymnastics, etc.  

My boy would be given "Olympic challenges".  I'd have him run laps around the house to let off steam.  So just get creative and keep adding to her activity level.  If she really is having trouble focusing, you'd hear about it in preschool.  

good luck

[lils450]

Thank you for the reply.  She is generally very smart. Knows her alphabet. We trace every night. Read every night   . she can count to 29. It is just the hyperactivity.  When we are waiting for a taxi for instance shes constantly bouncing.  Moving and fiddling. Even in her sleep   lol. Im around alot of children and most can actually sit for atleast a short period of time but not my girl.  Im not complaining.  Shes a great kid but I have noticed she just dont stop. If it was me id be exhausted for a week . I worried about her sleep deprivation though she is doing good in school.  The teachers dont see what I see :/

[Sandman2]

     I agree completely with what Specialmom is saying.  It is also possible that she might have either sensory integration disorder or attention deficient disorder - although its a bit early to tell in most cases.
     But, you might want to check out these two sites and let us know what you think.   Check out the SPD site - http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/   - as sensory will many times get mistaken for ADHD.
   In terms of ADHD, this is probably one of the most informative sites - http://www.help4adhd.org/en/about/what/WWK1.  

[specialmom]

Hi there.  First, let me just say what dyspraxia is.  It is motor planning which is a part of the brain/nervous system.  It involves how the brain talks to the body and with dyspraxia, they don't get the messages. So the hand can't carry out an unfamiliar task such as using a pencil.  Kids with severe dyspraxia don't walk, can't dress themselves, etc.  My son does have mild motor planning issues and hand writing was harder for him to learn.  There are strategies that they do to make it easier for a child.  Dyspraxia also is about organization of the mind and executive thinking function.  It's quite complex and some kids never are able to function well in society with it and other kids like my son has strategies in place and is more about new unfamiliar activities.  There is a spectrum to it.  

However, you really don't mention anything that sounds like dyspraxia to me or motor planning.  At 4, many kids are just learning how to write letters and many if not most can not yet read.  I'd work on letter recognition.  Read to her often, read alphabet books, play games with letters (here is one . ..   write letters on the back of small paper plates and put them all over the floor----  then call out letters and she has to hop stepping only on the paper plates until she gets to that letter.  Kind of a fun way to work on letter recognition).  With hand writing, holding the pencil is something to work on.  Short pencils like golf pencils are best to use.  You can work on tracing first.  She traces over what you've written.  Make it fun!!  And as time goes on, if it is hard for her, there are may things to use to help her such as 'Handwriting without tears".  Great hand writing program.  

Okay, anyway, back to the over activity and inflexibility.  maybe mommypaws was getting at this.  Mommypaws, does your child have sensory integration disorder?  Motor planning (which mommypaws is calling dyspraxia) is part of the sensory system.  My own son has sensory integration disorder.

He is and always was very active.  Focus was an issue.  sitting and doing something . . . no way.  He had boundless energy.  he also had to have things a certain way.  That is often a coping mechanism for what is going on internally and for a sensory kid, that is often chaos.  

The good news is that my son is now 9, and after identifying the issue and working on it-----  he is doing great.  Manages school well, can focus and do things, etc.  

You give very few details and in truth, MANY kids are just active.  Outlets to burn it off are essential. But if your mama warning bells are going off . . .   then keep your eye on it.  A good thing to do is to enroll her in half day preschool if she isn't in it already.  This is an excellent gage as trained teachers can often identify when a child falls outside normal.  It will help you see where things are going for kindergarten next year.  It's just a great source of information about your kid that is different than your info as the parent.  If she already attends a preschool program, what do the teachers say about her there?  

[MommyPaws]

maybe something like dyspraxia? my fiances brother has it, hes 10, and hes super active too, and has some trouble concentrating... but dyspraxia is not bad, if its diagnosed at least you know what it is, and can change your attitude towards her and understand her more.. check her out?