WDYD With an Overly Energetic Child?

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Child is 5.5 and leaves for Kinder this fall. He is a ball of energy and cannot sit still (this is not an exaggeration you should see mealtimes...) nor does he have any impulse control. We have come a long ways in terms of words and behavior but can't seem to get any further. We are stuck at a place of acting spastic all the time flailing/jiggling/acting crazy because he constantly wants others to laugh at him (yet, they really don't anymore because this is his normal) and very rarely being able to follow the rules (inside voice, hands to yourself, etc.).

The child's behaviors escalate when he goes homes and plays video games/watches tv for the rest of the evening and I have pointed that out to Mom.

What do you do for a child like this? Sometimes it seems like we are having "pep talks" almost hourly every single day for what good behavior looks like, what he is expected to do, etc. but nothing is really changing.

[WImom]

I have no advice but hopefully someone here does because I have the same child but he is 3y old. I have changed my program to being mostly active except a short circle time, art time, and meals. He just can not be still. I decided today he would have to get his winter items on after everyone else after he jumped off the bench that is under the coats rack onto all the kids getting ready. He just doesn't stop moving, always kicking his legs, karate chopping, etc.

Not sure what else to do. I so feel for you!!

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Originally Posted by WImom

I have no advice but hopefully someone here does because I have the same child but he is 3y old. I have changed my program to being mostly active except a short circle time, art time, and meals. He just can not sit still. I decided today he would have to get his winter items on after everyone else after he jumped off the bench that is under the coats rack onto all the kids getting ready. He just doesn't stop moving, always kicking his legs, karate chopping, etc.

Not sure what else to do. I so feel for you!!

Mine always has to be near an adult so he is the last one to take off his outside belongings when coming in, the last one to go sit at the table if I am in another room, etc. He knows it is because he has no impulse control away from an adult's constant supervision.

We are also a very active group. While we do have certain activities where we sit down or work on something specific there is also time for free play and for outside time (1 hour in the morning, 40 minutes in the afternoon). I have even designated our large circle time rug as a "running spot" if he wants to blow off steam (1 person running at a time).

I feel worried about this child entering Kindergarten. He drives me nuts sometimes but I do enjoy having him.

[Cat Herder]

I only know of a couple things that may help. The first you already do: lot's of physical activity, shorter table/circle times. The other is limiting his sugar/starch intake and upping his proteins and veggies.

5 seems to be such a hard age. Kindergarten teachers have my utmost respect.

[Blackcat31]

You could always start a collection?

[snbauser]

Other than what you are already doing the only other thing I can suggest is a countdown for you. I have one of those children and am out of ideas as well. I finally resorted to counting down the days until he is gone. At least it helps me from a mental standpoint to be able to cross a day off.

[Laurel]

Sometimes a quiet activity that they can do alone helps like playdough or building with legos.

[daycarediva]

How about a remote control? I have a laminated picture of a remote control with color coded buttons red=stop, green=go, yellow=slow/calm down, pause button is orange, rewind is blue I think, volume buttons are just up and down arrows. I used this with my own ds from the time he was 4 until this past summer (5.5).

When he is being too loud/wild I say "Josh, please push the STOP button, and turn the volume down on your remote."

"Josh, push pause. Rewind back to me and put your things away."


It took practice with what I meant, but a visual representation of what I needed him to do RIGHT THEN helped more than anything else I had tried. He is in K now, DEFINITELY has ADHD, and is a DREAM child in school. His teacher used the remote for the first few weeks and loved it so much, EVERY child now has buttons taped to their desk.

[Laurel]

Originally Posted by daycarediva

How about a remote control? I have a laminated picture of a remote control with color coded buttons red=stop, green=go, yellow=slow/calm down, pause button is orange, rewind is blue I think, volume buttons are just up and down arrows. I used this with my own ds from the time he was 4 until this past summer (5.5).

When he is being too loud/wild I say "Josh, please push the STOP button, and turn the volume down on your remote."

"Josh, push pause. Rewind back to me and put your things away."


It took practice with what I meant, but a visual representation of what I needed him to do RIGHT THEN helped more than anything else I had tried. He is in K now, DEFINITELY has ADHD, and is a DREAM child in school. His teacher used the remote for the first few weeks and loved it so much, EVERY child now has buttons taped to their desk.

Oh wow, that is so creative and clever. It gives them a visual of what you want. Love it! Thanks for sharing.

Laurel

[DaisyMamma]

Your patience is amazing.
He needs to be in school. He is bored.



I'm sure I sound like a jerk but I would term. But I have a small space and a small quiet group. What your explaining sounds exhausting. He needs complete structure and needs to be in a center with kids his own age.

[Cynthia]

Thanks Daycarediva I'm going to save that idea for later use.

[coolconfidentme]

Originally Posted by Blackcat31

You could always start a collection?

(giggle)

[cheerfuldom]

you should see if summer school is an option. a lot of schools allow pre kinder in the summer before kinder starts.

[My3cents]

Originally Posted by EntropyControlSpecialist

Child is 5.5 and leaves for Kinder this fall. He is a ball of energy and cannot sit still (this is not an exaggeration you should see mealtimes...) nor does he have any impulse control. We have come a long ways in terms of words and behavior but can't seem to get any further. We are stuck at a place of acting spastic all the time flailing/jiggling/acting crazy because he constantly wants others to laugh at him (yet, they really don't anymore because this is his normal) and very rarely being able to follow the rules (inside voice, hands to yourself, etc.).

The child's behaviors escalate when he goes homes and plays video games/watches tv for the rest of the evening and I have pointed that out to Mom.

What do you do for a child like this? Sometimes it seems like we are having "pep talks" almost hourly every single day for what good behavior looks like, what he is expected to do, etc. but nothing is really changing.

he needs more ways to exhaust his energy levels. Boys esp need to be physical. Video games, tv- free babysitter for parents. Have a talk to talk with them again and you can try asking them to not allow them- prob give you a look of buzz off lady.........but you can try. Try things that keep his hands busy. Play dough, molding clay, legos, crayons, sand, rice table, painting, when he tires of it say no this is what we are doing right now. Five more minutes and stretch that five minutes right out. Can't get out, exercise. Yoga. Make him your helper and keep him busy with small busy work task. Puzzles, let him stand to do puzzles and move, so long as not bothering others, if he is move him to a space of his own. Stress ball. A big bounce ball he can bang off of for a bit inside to get energy off. Thats all I got for you right now. He does sound like he has phased out of your program and is ready for big school. Read- teach him to read or a listening cd that he has to follow along and turn the page of a book. best- all else fails time for him to move on....

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Originally Posted by My3cents

he needs more ways to exhaust his energy levels. Boys esp need to be physical. Video games, tv- free babysitter for parents. Have a talk to talk with them again and you can try asking them to not allow them- prob give you a look of buzz off lady.........but you can try. Try things that keep his hands busy. Play dough, molding clay, legos, crayons, sand, rice table, painting, when he tires of it say no this is what we are doing right now. Five more minutes and stretch that five minutes right out. Can't get out, exercise. Yoga. Make him your helper and keep him busy with small busy work task. Puzzles, let him stand to do puzzles and move, so long as not bothering others, if he is move him to a space of his own. Stress ball. A big bounce ball he can bang off of for a bit inside to get energy off. Thats all I got for you right now. He does sound like he has phased out of your program and is ready for big school. Read- teach him to read or a listening cd that he has to follow along and turn the page of a book. best- all else fails time for him to move on....

He is still learning a lot here and isn't bored. I have had bored and this isn't it. This kiddo just has energy for days and days and days. I do the things you suggest but I have never tried, "We are doing this right now for 5 more minutes..." I HAVE told him, "We are running right now, please join your friends!" when he just "didn't want to" run but seriously needed to.

He doesn't have the memory to remember the things he needs to for reading right now. I just got one of those little tagalong leapfrogs that read each page but that does nothing as far as him learning to read. Any other suggestions for getting him going on reading? I could use all the help I could get with this one.