ADHD

You can look at diet.

Get the book out of your local library "Fed up with ADHD" by Sue Dengate. IS worth a read.
eta: I read this cover to cover when I saw that my DD had ADHD tendencies, learning & behaviour. We've had dramatic improvements by changing her diet. If you want any help, we've been eating this way for 10 months now.

A couple of simple changes might help or you might need more dramatic changes or you might need to go down the drug path.

Why do they say he is ADHD?

Edited by AandCsmum

I know Jo, I got a bit of a shock too. I just called to see how he was doing today and got an earbashing from the centre director!

Personally, I don't think he has ADHD. I think he has tendencies towards naughtiness (ahem, quite like his mummy actually), but my belief is that we are dealing with a little boy who has high intelligence, is not overly stimulated at daycare, and is actually bored sh*tless whilst there. He has a very good diet, minimal in the way of artificial colourings and sweeteners at home, and really the only thing I can think of is that I should include Omega-3 supplements and possibly get him tested for gluten intolerence.

But then, his daycare said he's "socially unacceptable" at the moment, cos he won't sit down properly when asked, and refuses a lot of the food they provide (can't blame him there, I would too - the food is beyond bad half the time!).

And that kind of makes me angry actually. I don't appreciate labels like "socially unacceptable" being put on my child. Most of all, because he is not. He is such a friendly, kind hearted little guy, who might bop a kid sometimes when playtime turns to custard, but what kid at 3 doesn't???

I dunno... maybe I think my child is better behaved than he really is????

i think the daycare is unacceptable. ! what a silly thing to say. they should be coming up with ways to help him socialise not criticising him or you!

if its worth anything i dont think he has ADHD. i think he is lovely! If anything the slight changes in his life may be a contributing factor to any unacceptable behaviour, not a labelled disorder.

maybe its time to change centres.

I would ask for a detailed list exactly why they thought he had adhd, and ask what they planned to do about it. (they should refer him onto an early childhood intervention team). If they can come up with a list, i would go to your GP and ask them about it. Kids can be quite different at home from at daycare.

We have a secondary boy in the process of being diagnosed ADHD and the questionaire is LOOOOONG, and involved, and certainly involves more than "runs around a lot".

the person that said ADHD, what experience do they have with diagnosis?

My daycare for a while though Taine had autism and were extremly helpful. he was refered to the ECI team, and was observed by him at home and at daycare. they are yet to get back to us, but daycare said if he was, they would work with us.

I would move and find a better daycare, is there anyone at the daycare you trust the opinion of? that you could ask about his behaviour?

I have had the same thing with our DD and it being suggested that she may have ADHD. Suggested and no helpful advise or examples given!!!

Tottaly agree with everyone eles change centers

My nephew was very similar at the same age, my sister has dropped ALL artifical colour, additives, preservatives, and gone mainly organic food for the whole family.

He will be 6 in may, since starting school he has gone up 2 classes, can sit and concentrate for long periods (over an hour) etc. Yes if he has even the slightest food he isn't supposed to he reacts, and it takes up to 4 days to get it out of his system again.

My sister was told at her daycare as well that they thought he has ADHD but they researched it and looked into the diet they are all on now and decided they would rather try this first than have lots of testing etc to see if he has ADHD.

While my kids eat minimal what we call "crap" food with all the E numbers, they also have nothing with "flavours" added either as that is bad too. It has taken them over 2 years to sort out their diet they feel it is well worth it.

For daycare they ended up going to a home based carer who was more easily able to deal with his diet and not make a fuss about it. They were also able to find a kindy who understood as well. (They moved towns due to her DH's job and found the smaller town and more rural lifestyle helped with people being more understanding as most were doing at least the organic thing anyway)

Hey, thanks everyone for your valued input! I am going to look again at the levels of additives in his diet, although I do try to make sure they are pretty minimal.

I've just enrolled him in a new pre-school I spent an hour there this morning, and it really seems like a positive and supportive environment. I explained at great length what was going on with Josh at the other place, and how I felt he was acting out due to the way he was being treated there etc etc, and they said they have staff with specialist experience to help unsettled children. I feel confident that this could be the place for him!

Ohhh where abouts are you sending him??? Sounds like a great place