I have a 10yr old son who is ADHD and getting into alot of trouble in school . What can I do?

Teresita - posted on 01/24/2013

My son is 12 and in middle school. He is also getting into so much trouble. I appreciate all the post because it gives me ideas and hope. I pray one day the schools in my area realize how amazing these children are and get trained to understand and teach these amazing children. I will continue fighting for him and reaching out for more ideas, help and patience. Good Luck everyone. It's great to know I'm not alone in this fight.

Elaine - posted on 04/08/2010

My eldest has ADHD he is 17 now but he found school very difficult your the same as me tried everything, I was told by a cahms specialist to walk away when he has a mood or find somewhere where he can cool off, my son goes to his room and concentrates on something.
The problem with ADHD the kids can be intelligent and need a lot of stimulation i.e get bored easy then the problem starts. All through school I had a problem with him because the teachers don't fully understand ADHD what it is and how to cope with it.
I hope this helps you somehow as I know how difficult and frustrating at times. I found my son now 17 stayed out of trouble so don't worry to much I know thats easier said than done just take a step back give him his space then some problems may ease off.
I'm not waying its easy he's now 17 and still suffers from it and a lot harder to cope with.
Just try the method of giving him his space where parents don't intrude on this does help, thats his place where he can calm down. Its easy to get so frustrated and feel there's no help out there.
If you want I can give me my e-mail if it helps let me know
Elaine Benson

Kenitra - posted on 04/08/2010

My son takes meds for his ADHD. When he was doing so well in school, the doctor suggested I start the next school year without. He was frequently in trouble and was suspended from the bus and school. When I put him back on his meds, he went from bus suspension to bus award. He is an A/B student, and even made principal's list. He is active in sports.

Put him on a strict schedule, involve sports, limit TV time, make sure he gets enough sleep at night. My son has occasional problems getting to sleep, so the doctor has prescribed a sleeping pill for those nights, but it rarely comes to that. Although I know little about controlling their diet, but I do know food allergies could cause hyperactivity.

ADHD kids respond very well the structure. Create one that works for both of you. Most of all, hold him responsible for his actions, and make sure that he knows that doing wrong is a decision he chooses to make. Should he choose to make bad decisions, make the punishment fit the crime. (For example: don't take away TV time if he doesn't do his chores, instead give him extra chores he has to get done before he can go play with his friends.)

Carrie - posted on 03/31/2010

My Daughter just turned ten, When she was 5 she got the diagonase for ADHD. Her bio father as it and we were lucky enough to have the same dr he had. The school my daughter attends as been great. We (The whole family, bio and step dad, Both set of grand parents, Aunts Uncles) the school, her Dr, Counslair, and Behavioral Meds therptist all work in tight communctions with each other. It takes alot of extra time, but to me She is worth it. She started taking the meds in Kindergarden, combined with lots of phiscally activty (atlest 30 min everyday), and counsling, she as excelled in life. She started by getting in trouble all the time, because she was well hyper, she didnt want o sit still cause her mind was working over time...we did the work...Daily notes from the teacher, which lead to talking with the dr, and so on from there. It took alot of time and there are still points where things needs twinking...Those are just what works for my little devil... By the way, we did try to go without meds but she couldnt consitrate at all...not even to play a game...but she takes just enough to bring her down...after 6 years she still only takes a small does...

Kathy - posted on 03/31/2010

Have had the same problem and still do if I don't keep on top of it.Keep in touch with the teacher or teachers on a daily basis.If the child knows you are in touch and they will have consequences, that will help.My problem is my child not getting along with the kids in the class.If any one has words of wisdom with that,I would love to hear from you.

Jennifer - posted on 03/31/2010

Have heard good things about Animal Assisted Therapy
http://www.kindplanet.org/aat.html

Glenda - posted on 03/28/2010

Lots of information is needed here, first of all is he on medication, and have you talked to his pediatrician??? also there should be a conselor at school who should be able to help. I think that the word "trouble" could mean a lot of different things, so I really cant say much with only that little to go on, Id like to know if trouble means fights, or not doing his work? or bad notes or what? Ive been there and done that, (not fights) and I know what you are going through. There is lots of help for you, just remember to be positive and not have him always feeling like he cant do anything right, he must have support, both at school and home, there has to be a team working on his behalf! good luck and God bless you both!!! glenda

Beth - posted on 03/28/2010

I have a daughter with a nonverbal learning disorder which can sometimes look like ADD. She attends a group therapy with kids that do have ADHD and other disorders. In this group the kids learn different coping mechanisms and ways to recognize social ques. I don't know if this is something you have tried or might consider, but it has been very helpful with our daughter. There were no instant fixes she has been doing group for about 3 years and we have noticed slow steady progress. Hope this was helpful. We found the group therapist from the doctor who tested our daughter, but I would imagine any child therapist would be able to recommend somebody.

Sharon - posted on 03/28/2010

* I can Totally sympathize w/you! I have 3 kids in all, 2 of which are boy/girl Twins & 2 of my 3 are ADHD, 1 of the twins, my daughter (11), & my oldest son (17). It has been a struggle finding the best help for each of them & I have to say not exactly the same things works for them both!! But the one common is my persistence. AND letting them both know that honestly life isn't always fair. They both get angry because everything comes SO much easier for their friends while they have to struggle. So I just let them know that I understand how they feel, I really do, but the fact is that they will probably Always have to work harder, & maybe it will take longer than it does everybody else, but they CAN still do the same things everyone else can!!!!! The fact that their peers don't have to struggle like they do REALLY bothers them A Lot! But I just have to be persistent in reminding them always, Not to give up, & that I know it isn't fair, but it is what it is & even though they don't see it now, it actually will make them stronger than most because they will know if they can do this they can do anything, they will know that no matter how hard it is or long it takes they can do ANYTHING they want to do!!! THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT! Because it is easy to get discouraged. - So Persistence is Key - Not just in encouragement but with the school too. It's literally a daily battle. So Great, Not Good, Communication with the entire school is a must. Meaning Each & every one of your childs teachers from homeroom to music, to art, gym, you name it. Also with the Principal & Assistance Prin, the Secretaries, the Guidance Councilor, even the lunch ladies if necessary. Any one at the school that is going to have contact with your child. Because that accomplishes several things. It lets them know that your child has a MEDICAL CONDITION and is not just a troubled, or just plain mean kid. Also that you are not just another parent trying to make excuses for your childs bad behavior, which is often what they think at first. It shows them that you are an active & concerned parent in your childs life and it opens the line of communication with them & builds needed Trust & Understanding! Not to mention it will make life easier all around! Then work out some kind of daily communication with each of your childs teachers, whether it be a note everyday, a phone call, notes in daily planner, what ever. And I should tell you as it goes u'll have 2 adjust, like starting daily at first, & if like mine, being completely responsible is an issue, like for instance, your kids not always turning in homework or is loosing assignments, forgetting things, u know, then u have to figure out a system that makes sure u & teacher can speak some how each day to know exactly what is going on. Then as they being to change & They Will, you can go from day to week or what ever. (Planner works for me, cause its a daily thing they Have to use, & teacher signs it that they have seen it & so do I) [Incentive works to make sure at least I get to see it everyday, because they weren't always bringing it home everyday. So I do daily punishment or reward like No Planner, guess whos cleaning the bath tub, or doing the dishes, or such, & same if they didnt get the teachers signature. After a week or two of that I get results. (And it does take time, hence the persistence) If they have it everyday & its signed, it's reward. Like 30 mins more tv time. or game time, or call a friend or outside. But I will say I am a fairly strict parent as far as tv, vid games, n such during the school week. My kids are very active in sports and extra activities, so we have to manage time wisely!!! And they have enough trouble getting things done as is what with adhd, so tv n such is just an extra distraction we don't need. - But after a while the reward or cleaning punishment Pays off Big! But it is an effort on my part Everyday, & I can NOT slack! As a matter of fact that is the system I use for all behavior. Not just school, but thats where I started it & thought Bingo, I can do this for all Bad or Good behavior! Like back talking, fighting, not keeping clean rooms, arguing, You name it! My kids do chores anyway, I found taking things away & grounding was NOT working for me either! So we do it day by day! Easy for me to remember, & keep up with easy for them to remember & keep up with. AND I find a cleaning punishment kills them worse than anything else in the world. Even if I have to waste my time & stand right there over their shoulder the whole time they do it, which was something they thought they could use against me, like well moms busy she can only make me for so long, so I'll just do it wrong, or take 4ever & she'll give up, 'cause I will admit I was guilty of that, I found if I stand firm no matter what, No Matter What, eventually they will do it. After that hurdle they knew that I was gonna be right there with them no matter what no matter how long & it started working! After quite some time, now, I don't always have to be right in the same room. I say clean the tub, & It gets clean, & I mean really clean not sorta. There are times I still have to be right over the shoulder, and it was getting to where they were starting to not care again & think they could out last me again, but I took it one step further, If I gotta be over the shoulder You're gonna be cleaning with a tooth brush! I Always have to stay a step ahead! The way I see it I chose to have um & they are my responsibility, & I'm asking them to deal with this thing they have to live with everyday the least I can do is set an example and live what I preach, and Match their effort u know! And If I can do anybody can. I myself have Dyslexia, and MAJOR health issues and am physically disabled & 35 yrs old. A Lot of days I can't even get out of bed, and thats one more hard thing my kids have to live & deal with. But I will NOT let it be an excuse, as long as I'm breathing & thinking, I'm gonna find a way to, as they say, "Get R Done"! ] Anyway, you have 2 find what works for u but u have to be persistent. Next comes Dr visit. Strattera works for us. I'm not a supporter of kids on meds, & its not always the answer, & it's NOT a solution, but it can be a good tool. It also depends the level & severity of ur childs ADHD. But I'm guessing if you say your child has it then it was probably diagnosed by a Dr. so just talk to your Dr & get the Dr's opinion & recommendation. I recommend Strattera because we have tried several different meds which had bad results for us. Concerta being the worst for us, causing a complete loss of appetite in both & leaving my daughter like a zombie, and severe moods swings & thoughts of suicide for my son. We had decided meds were Not the answer, but things did not get better and started getting worse. So Strattera was suggested and with much argument and then research by us we decided we would try it one more time, but watching closely, and surprise, it Helps!! We have not seen the bad side effects as with the other meds. And it is helping with focus & concentration, which are 2 major issues with ADHD. - As I said it is NOT the solution & NOT a quick fix, It still takes all the same effort on our part, but now it's a little less stress for us & for them. There are a lot more smiles and laughing these days. Homework makes it to & from way more, slips here n there, but with a smile I say, like any other kid I guess. They can focus easier on the task at hand, & class disruptions are alot less often. Obeying rules and understanding why they need to is finally happening. Friendships are lasting a little longer & better. And now the rules of the house seem to be sinking in. But thats Not to say everything is A-OK! There are plenty of times that I get aggravated, frustrated, exhausted, & out right ticked off, I even still have "that's it!" moments, But it is a tool that is helping us all work a little easier! - *** I agree with a lot of the other replies on here, they all say something relevent, & really the one thing everybody can agree on is that raising a child with ADHD is not easy! It may even be one of the hardest things a parent will ever have to do, but on the flip side LIVING with ADHD may be the hardest things child will ever have to do! That's the one thought I have to remind myself always, & at least for me, it's what keeps me fighting when I'm so fed up, angry, exhausted, and feeling just out right Done! That & the love for my kids, & the future & success I hope for their lives as they grow to adults, and possibly one day Parents themselves! It's ultimately MY JOB as their Mom to mold them into the Adults they will be. My choices, where we live, what schools they attend, my relationships with their schools, teachers, friends, friends parents, sports teams & coaches, really ALL MY Choices for their lives WILL Help to MOLD THEM INTO THE ADULTS THEY WILL BE! *I ALWAYS Say "I'm not raising kids, I'm raising Adults, I'm being a mom to my kids"!- An important part of growing up is being a kid first, so its really important to just have kid time too, and we do everyday! - ~ So hang in there Momma, it's HARD, but You CAN do it! You just gotta keep digging EVERYDAY! And don't forget to take some time just for yourself, cause fighting everyday day is just plain exhausting, & even the best well oiled machine needs a break. So remember to recharge yourself when you need to or when you can and love your kids & love yourself, and believe me LOVE goes a LONG Way!!!!!!!! I hope this Long rambling reply can offer some help and made some sense!
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In closing, I'll say my point to this long-winded thing is; The bad behavior & getting in trouble is a result of childhood, But Most Importantly the ADHD. The ADHD is causing the main source of frustration & anger in his life. Like with school & peers, & friends & rules & what with all the trouble and punishments, he's probably feeling like he's not good enough & can't do anything right & nobody likes him or loves him, & he's just a bad person. Even if he doesn't say that, Even if you don't think so, because I didn't at first either, and believe I have been Exactly at the point & place you are right now, I'll bet that's what he thinks & feels. But really he can't help it!!! The ADHD does that! It'll take time & hard work on your part with all I've told you about, but The only thing that will really turn it around for him is for him to REALIZE he has a Medical Problem that he needs HELP with and it is NOT that he's just a bad kid, who everybody hates! And Being able to then Understand why he gets punishment, and that even with this condition, he still HAS to Abide by the same rules that everybody else does. That Really he is No Better or Worse than any other human being! That we ALL have differences, taller, shorter, allergies, no allergies, right handed, left handed, In a wheelchair, not in a wheelchair, Diabetes, No Diabetes, ADHD, No ADHD. - And Really deep down inside that what he wants, thats what it's ALL ABOUT, he just wants to be like everyone else! *And he needs to know that he is! He's Human, Just Like Everybody Else! ;)

Catherine - posted on 03/23/2010

I have had 2 sons that way and keeping them out of trouble was impossible, to say the least. Iwas just there to help them out of it. They have taken me to the hospital more than once and to the police station a few times, but all in all that is the only thing we could do for them. I tried sports, music lessons, cadets and so on. They do grow out of it eventually as long as they know you have limitations. Just hang on to the love.

Juaitan - posted on 03/22/2010

believe me you are not alone, my oldest and my youngest were diagnosed several years ago. we (the doctors and i) have tried several things, including medications. along with the meds, i did grounding, restrictions, took away things they loved and it seemed nothing was working. with my oldest, he was able to get additional help from the school and it went with him to high school and he graduated 2yrs ago. however with my youngest the school has not been as helpful even with the papers from his doctor and previous teachers. we are now doing counseling sessions and so far it seems to be working. so if you can afford it or your insurance will pay for it, find a good counselor that not only specializes in children, but children with adhd.

i will say, we did try meds for both boys; i took my oldest off shortly after starting them because he became a zombie on the brand he was taking and i took my youngest off because i didn't care for the longterm side effects and he stated they really didn't help him much.

Celia - posted on 03/20/2010

if he is on medication perhaps its stopped working and needs to have an higher dose or change it all together i have two grandsons with adhd the elder out the two also swears runs out of school and is nasty to his mother my daughter he does not do anything he is asked also took a knife to his mum and trys to strangle the younger one who is coming up for 10yrs old he is not so bad but he copys the olderone mostly for attention the older one coming up for twelve and both boys who are brothers go to see a doctor at a childrens centre who changed the elder ones medication sorry cant rember the name of it and it worked he is not as naughty still locks himself in school toilets and causes a stir he also dont like changes and is bullied at times thats when he really goes of his head and its hard work try talking to your doctor and see if you can get more help i wish you all the best take care celia x

Pam - posted on 03/19/2010

I can appreciate that right now things are really bad for you but please check out my 18 year old son's FB page to show you the light at the end of the tunnel. He was diagnosed finally aged 7 and was put on Ritalin which we stopped a year ago as he'd outgrown the need for it. We were careful to limit additives (e numbers, etc) and sweets he was allowed. He always had and still has chores around the house and we have never been soft on him. ADHD kids need firm handling and should be taught to be more disciplined than other kids in order to beat it. We always taught Sean he needed to be better than normal as he could be prejudged by others before they got to know him as a person. He was in his high school's basketball team and a prefect before leaving school at 16 - they need to be actively challenged both physically and mentally or boredom does set in allowing idle time to get distracted and in trouble. We found two types of teachers - some really good and some useless and even one who picked on him - we moved schools multiple times. He went straight to work and after redundancy last year got himself apprenticeship. The medicines do work in conjunction with monitoring the diet and the firm handling - I hope this helps

Trish - posted on 03/18/2010

I have 2 sons with ADD/ADHD. The first thing you need to do is calm down, take a deep breath and look at your child as just that... your child. He/she needs your love, devotion, adoration and your voice.

My son with ADD just needed some self confidence which had been eroded by well-meaning teachers and Special Ed. people who, instead of advocating for him, just isolated him and made him feel stupid. After a switch of schools, he is now in honors classes and really feels good about himself and we are seeing his talents bloom.

The one with ADHD needs a LOT of physical activity. He is on swim team and gets the "willies" out swimming 3-4 times a week for 45 minutes each time. I can tell when he needs to swim. He is off his drugs and we are not fighting over homework. He has gained some self confidence after the same well-meaning teachers and Special Ed. people did not give him the confidence he needed to read and write well.

Care for, love, give lots of attention, give them a voice, do radical things that sometimes don't make sense, but most of all just listen to what they need and what you can do to help them. They are in a crazy, mixed up world of GO, GO, GO and they just need your sense of direction.

Breathe. Breathe. Breathe. And then remember that you are the adult. There are a lot of people who claim to "cure" AD/HD and a lot of drugs that might "help" for a while, but in the end, they are forming all of their attitudes, ideas and self-confidence and what they will remember most is how you stood up for them when others didn't.

Tammy - posted on 03/18/2010

I agree with the postings above. If you son is on medication you will want to speak with his doctor about either changing medications or he may be ready for a medication increase.

Prior to the doctor appointment speak with the teacher and see if his behavior problems are centered around a specific subject or possibly at a specific time period. When my son was having the most difficulty in school it was when there had to be alot of reading involved. He struggles with reading and always felt dumb when he was forced to read. We adjusted his IEP and all reading assignments are now done in a separate classroom with a smaller group of students so he doesn't have to deal with the self confidence issue.



He was also having issues right before lunch. Turned out when I talked to the doctor he had grown so much in the year and half prior that he actually was a half a dose now for his meds. We upped his meds and things went so much more smoothly within about two days.



Our children with ADD and ADHD need us to communicate for them. They don't understand what is going on with them and why they are so different than others. We also need the communication open between the school and doctors and us as parents.



Our school does not allow for parent involvement in teacher requests. Although, I am allowed to state what personality and other characteristics that I need for my son in order to keep things running smoothly at the school

Brandi - posted on 03/17/2010

My son was the same way, he was diagnosed in third grade and is now in sixth. Punishments and discipline just do not work for a child who has ADD. I worked with the school, his pediatirician and am now working with a psychiatrist. My son is on medication, but it had taken three years to find the right one for him. ADD is not an excuse for misbehavior, we tell my son the same thing. My husband has struggled with ADD his entire life and understands how he feels. Now my son is level, plays soccer and runs track. It is not an instantaneous solution. dealing with a child with Add is hard work ,but it is worth it. We just have to adjust our lives a little bit. We use checklists, daily calendars, agenda books and consistent schedules. The medicine is a help, but it will not fix everything.
I struggled with putting my son on medication, but my son's doctor looked at me and said "can it get any worse?" That cinched it, we tried it. The first week on mediaction, my son looked at me and said "its like things are not flying around in my head anymore" this was a hge thing for a child in third grade to say. He went from F's in conduct to A's. He was literally beaming when he brought his first report card home with all A's.

Raylynn - posted on 03/10/2010

Honestly, I medicate. My son is benifiring greatly from his medication. There are alot of people who won't even consider medication and I'm sorry for their children. I watched my younger brothers and now my lil nephew suffer because their parents are close minded. You can tell when my son hasn't taken his pill in just one day! The drugs are not what it used to be. It did take some experimenting but if you have the right Psychologist and pediatrician and everyone works together it is very rewarding. When you see your child is UNABLE to sit still rather than not WANTING to it becomes your responsibility to do something about it.

Janet - posted on 03/06/2010

First of all, every child is an individual and will respond differently to all 'solutions' . It is very hard for other parents to tell each other WHAT TO DO and they really shouldn't try. ADD and ADHD is such a broad term and can present in so many ways that each component has to be examined on its own. My 11 1/2 yr old son had a lot of anxiety, auditory processing and sensory integration issues. He also has the impulsive type of ADD. Getting so close to medicating him and also seeing the affect his behavior and lack of control we had with him was affecting our family, I tried natural supplements. After about a month his anxiety was decreased substantially and focus improved also. I feel that he could focus because he didn't have as much anxiety. He also retained a lot more information possibly for the same reason. I use Isotonix supplements which do not have to be digested since many kids with neurlogical challenges have digestive issues whether parents realize it or not. Take a good look at your child's diet, elimination habits and also what he desires to eat and you may want to consider working with a knowledgeable nutritionist or naturopathic doctor to adjust and/or test food sensitivities.My son had adamantly requested pasta most every day. After the natural supplements and vitamins he no longer did. His serotonin levels may have been low but I never really tested since things improved dramatically. Then I learned that there are neurotransmitter receptors in the stomach ( nerve hormones) which made perfect sense to my theory. If you can take a step back and remove yourself personally from the situation, you may be able to make observations that you can't while you are so stressed and involved with trying to control their behavior. There's also variables daily that may need to be taken into consideration.

Terri - posted on 03/06/2010

my name is terri i have a 12 year old daughter with adhd .its very hard to deal with a child with adhd .i cant find the right doctor for her and the right medication .so she isnt on anything for her adhd for many years .when she was on it she was like a zombie so i took her off of it.and she doesnt listen to me at all im fraustrated alot so i know what all the moms are going through i need to get help

Pam - posted on 03/06/2010

I have a child who is now 15 who is ADHD...more on the attention deficit side rather than hyperactive. We have had a really bumpy road and it's been full of heartache and disappointment. Although there are some who would disagree with me, medication does wonder for them but the key is that they have to be a willing participant in the process. The medication isn't going to fix some problems but it calms them down enough so they can focus their energy on learning. There are many different medications out there and it's a matter of trial and error. Good luck. I hope this helps.

Christina - posted on 03/05/2010

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH RENEE ON MANY THINGS. I ALSO COULDN'T TAKE THE MEDS WHEN I WAS YOUNGER WITHOUT BECOMING A ZOMBIE. I LUCKED OUT W/ MY SON AND GOT TO BE SEEN BY MANY SPECIALISTS TO GET A PLAN THAT WORKS FOR HIM, ALSO ASK THE SCHOOL ABOUT AN IEP{INDIVIDULIZED EDUCATION PLAN} THEY STILL ARE IN REGULAR CLASSES BUT THEY ALL LEARN AND ABSORB THINGS DIFFERENTLY. AND YOU DO HAVE TO BE STRICTER AND DEFINITELY TEACH HIM ITS NOT AN EXCUSE TO LIVE BY. AND RENEE IS VERY CORRECT ABOUT THEIR IQ AND GETTING BORED EASY. MY SON STILL HAS ISSUES WITH READING BECAUSE HE ALSO HAS DYSLEXIA BUT HE CAN TAKE APART A CAR ENGINE AND PUT IT BACK TOGETHER COMPLETELY BY HIMSELF, SINCE HE WAS 10 YRS OLD.TRY TO FIND SOMETHING YOUR SON LOVES TO EMERGE HIMSELF IN, ANYTHING AS LONG AS IT ISNT HARMFUL OR DANGEROUS, AND YOU'LL SEE A BIG CHANGE BOREDOM IS LIKE DEATH IN THEIR EYES. SERIOUSLY WHEN MINE WOULD GET BORED HE'D CRY BECAUSE HE LITERALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH HIMSELF. WELL THANKS 4 LISTENING!

Renee - posted on 03/04/2010

My son is ADHD and because when he was little it was always well it's cause he is ADHD so he developed ODD oppositional defiant disorder. Which meant I had to get stricter make him understand I was the Mom and what I said went. ODD is a learned behavior now I tell him that yes he has ADHD but it is not an excuse it just means he has to work harder than the other kids to behave and make good grades. Also it will help if where ever you live has an ESE Program or an equivalant. My son was not in any special classes he was in regular classes but the teachers had to have special training. My son could also not take any of the meds. The one time he tried he was unresponsive for hrs. His eyes were open but he could not move or speak. It is not easy dealing with a child with ADHD but if you have teachers who are trained to help him it would be easier. Also Sweetie has he gets older has long as you make him understand that adults are the ones in control then he will beable to start learning how to control his own behavior. yes sports work but actually my Son's therapist said games and computers were good too cause even tho they were still the games make their brains believe they are in constant motion. I did all 3 with my son... He had soccer, baseball, nintendos, and computers and now he is 15 and a young man that I am very proud of. Oh and by the way it is a proven fact that kids with ADHD have a higher intelligence IQ then "normal" children. So they get bored easier. It is not easy but trust me you can do it. Talk to his Dr and if you don't want to use prescription meds then know that there is herbal meds for ADHD at health food stores, but do discuss it with his Dr and maybe you can get him a therapist one who will talk to you and him. They helped me to learn to cope and deal with my Son and taught him how to learn to control his own behavior in more positive ways and helped him to learn that he was not a bad kid or a strange child. He is just different but different can also be a good thing...

Christina - posted on 03/04/2010

MY SON IS ALMOST 13 HAS ADHD, AND I CANT BEGIN TO DESCRIBE THE HELL WE WENT THRU TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE NOW! ADDERALL! YES ITS A DRUG GRADES HAVE IMPROVED 100% ALONG WITH BEHAVIOR!,BUT MOST OF ALL HIS SELF CONFIDENCE . ITS TOTALLY WORTH IT CONSULT HIS DOCTOR! OTHER THINGS MAY WORK FOR AWHILE BUT ITS A MEDICAL CONDITION SO IT NEEDS TO BE TREATED.THEIR BRAINS FUNCTION TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN THE SO CALLED"NORMAL" CHILDS BRAIN.

Miiki - posted on 02/26/2010

you know the school and teachers were and are major contributors to for me and my son, they do have a lot of valuable information and insight, I forgot to mention that important fact. Thanks for reminding me

Mary - posted on 02/26/2010

You have to establish communication with the school. Ask the teacher to send home a weekly or daily report - reward him for good days. The report can be as simple as a composition note book the teacher dates and signs with a smiley or frowning face. Teachers today should have several techniques to assist children with ADHD and if his teacher doesn't you should seek help from the school or district's learning disability consultant that is on staff. Also, if he isn't medicated, it may be time to talk to your physician about it. Good Luck!

Julia - posted on 02/23/2010

Talk to the school. You might be surprised how helpful they can be. What they need to know more than ever, it's that you know there's a problem and you want to help resolve it. Teaming up with their teachers so you're all on the same page can make the world of difference. If they won't take time to help you, consider changing to a school that cares and supports more.

Miiki - posted on 02/23/2010

your not alone, I did all that I could do before seeking medical advice. Sometimes you can try sports, or activities together. Most times you have to be creative and go back to the old days when you were young and bring back some of the things you did for entertainment. Todays children are not as the were when you and I grew up, it is more peer pressure than anything. Some of his ADHD problems may go beyound ADHD. you might want to look into that as well. Instead of grounding him, try making him do something that you want him to do, that he would find lame. Like folding clothes, mopping the floor, make him earn his reward. give him something Challenging, something that makes it seem impossible for him to achieve, the desire alone to achieve it would make him concentrate and figure out away to get it done, believe it or not. Just a few suggestions. Hope any of these help