Hyper Toddler!

valerie.kingsley

Hey all,

I'm sure so many people say this, but my toddler boy is a maniac!  I don't say that negatively.  He is a blast.  He's crazy and fun.  But, like most mothers, I am paranoid about things like ADD and ADHD.  I want to make sure I am doing what I can to teach him things that prepare him for school, within reason.  I am a firm believer in encouraging boyhood, and then manhood.  I don't want to set expectations for him that are unrealistic.  I would like to hear from other moms who have already noticed if their boys are extra hyper and what they do to provide outlets for that.  What do you do to encourage sitting still times?  I want my son to be a respectful, obedient child, and he needs to learn that there is a time and place for everything.  Also, if you have had a child who turned out to be ADD/ADHD, when did you know?  What's your journey been like?  

 Only positive responses please   There seems to be way too many self righteous people on these things who like to use this as an opportunity to get on their high horses.  Your responses aren't welcome here.

THANKS!

stemms8810

 Can you define hyper a little bit more?  Is he running all over the place and non-compliant with every attempt you give to redirect him?  Is he destructive?  Is he just 'busy' and needs to be engaged in activity all the time?

Can you engage with him in a quiet activity for certain times during the day like a puzzle or reading a book?  This will help him be involved in something but it's a quiet activity.  Toddler's always have more energy than we do so it's not abnormal to have a 'hyper' child.  As long as you set boundaries and teaching him firmly about the word 'no', you should be fine.

valerie.kingsley

I guess my definition of his hyper is, he is almost always running around, tumbling, etc.  His volume is almost always yelling, but not in an angry way.  We make jokes that he is like a caveman, because that's how he communicates mostly.  He is an obedient child, so I wouldn't call him non-compliant.  We do "blanket time" and he can sit still for 10 minutes so far, with some redirection when he tries to get up.  He loves being read to, but only on his terms, but when that happens it's usually a lot of reading in one sitting. 

I appreciate your saying toddlers are usually more active.  That's what I needed to hear.  I guess I don't know what is and isn't normal, and what I should be looking for as far as abnormal goes.  Thank you!

stemms8810

I think 10 minute blanket time is really good!  I wouldn't expect more than that at this age.  I considered my DD a 'busy' child when she was a toddler.  She was always go, go, go and wasn't a cuddly child where she would sit with me for more than a minute.  Where you will notice if it's more than just being active is when he becomes pre-school and school age.  If he can't focus and sit for what's considered a developmentally appropriate amount of time, your pre-school or kindergarten teacher will bring it to your attention.  But for the time being, enjoy your active little one.

I will also add that my DD doesn't have ADD or ADHD so it was something she grew out of. She did awesome in pre-school and is finishing kindergarten with no problems! She was also gave me 'the business' like I call it at home but was an angel at pre-school. Hope that helps!

RMama2012

From Parents.com

 

Q. My 15-month-old never stops moving. He won't sit for longer than a minute or two to play with a toy or read a book. He just wants to be on the go. I'm worried -- could he have ADHD?

A. It certainly sounds like you have a very busy, active toddler. And in this day and age, with parents hearing so much about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), I can understand why you might wonder about your own child. However, from your description, it sounds as if your son is healthy and thriving, and that his attention span is right in line with that of other 15-month-olds -- the average attention span for this age group is actually less than two minutes!

ADHD is generally not diagnosed in children younger than 5 or 6 because being highly active is well within the range of normal for toddlers and preschoolers. In fact, all the scientific literature on ADHD describes the disorder as "inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that's inappropriate for age." A child younger than 5 who might get diagnosed with ADHD usually exhibits severe impulsivity that puts him in danger, such as running into traffic or jumping off a high wall. In addition, any child diagnosed with ADHD must exhibit symptoms that interfere with his functioning (trouble with making friends and learning, not following the rules) in more than one setting, such as home and school.

What you want to watch for as your child becomes a preschooler (age 3 or 4) is whether his activity level gets in the way of his interacting and connecting with others, such as engaging in back-and-forth play and taking turns. You also want to make sure his activity level is not affecting his ability to learn: Is he moving so often and quickly that he doesn't have time to take in information or learn to problem-solve? If you're concerned at that time, talk with your child's pediatrician or another trusted child-development professional.

For now, while your son's behavior sounds quite typical, there are things you can do to help him learn to slow down:

• Establish routines, especially around transitions such as getting into the car to go somewhere. For example, give him a warning that it's almost time to go bye-bye, help him end his activity, and have him choose a book or toy to take in the car to divert his attention. Routines will help him to know what to expect and prepare for what's coming next.
• Make sure that your son is getting enough sleep since children tend to be more active and distracted when they are overtired. (Most toddlers his age need about 13 hours of sleep at night.)
• Offer lots of opportunities for safe, active play. Take trips to the playground; on cold or rainy days, create indoor obstacle courses with pillows that he can climb over.
• Make reading interactive. Encourage him to turn the pages. Ask him to point out the animals or objects in the pictures. As he grows, he can act out the story.
• Ask for your child's help with everyday activities, such as putting the spoons on the table or picking up leaves.
• Give your toddler time to wind down. Start limiting active play at least an hour before bedtime and 30 minutes before naptime. Engage in quiet, soothing activities.

 

And remember: Active children aren't wild or out of control -- they just need to move.

Claire Lerner, LCSW, is a child development specialist at Zero to Three, a national nonprofit promoting the healthy development of babies and toddlers (zerotothree.org).

Originally published in American Baby magazine, January 2005.

All content here, including advice from doctors and other health professionals, should be considered as opinion only. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others.

mben1119

JFC. He's a toddler. Most of them are nuts.

EMunion777

 Don't think i'm trying to be mean or rude. I'm giving my honest opinion. You can take it or leave it.

Cut down on juice or water it down and avoid sugary foods. That might help calm him a little bit but in my own opinion I don't think ADD or ADHD is something to worry about.

I have an extremely active toddler girl. She runs wild all over the house. I think it's normal and okay.

  I just think you have nothing to worry about.

valerie.kingsley

Thanks, so much everyone!  I never give my LO juice anyway...he'd be insane if I did probably!  Thank you for all of the personal input as well as research.  I appreciate the encouragement

valerie.kingsley

Kimbus22:

Yep.  Telling people how to respond makes you more self righteous than us meanies too.

 

Lol...wow.  That had nothing to do with your post, which I appreciated by the way