My 7 year old son has ADHD and is having a hard time getting his school work done what do I do?

My son is in 2nd grade and he has ADHD, for a few months he has been having a hard time getting his work done in class and is getting in trouble for not doing it. He gets fun privileges taken away in class which isn't fun for him. Plus I think there may be kids picking on him at school which isn't helping. I talk to his teacher and we have addressed the picking on issue to hopefully that helps. Even she says she is a smart kid when you get him to do the work which he knows how to do. He kinda just spaces out doin his own thing. I have tried taking toys away games and privileges at home, they don't seem of much value to him like what ever, NEXT. Homework is a hit or miss, either he is into doing it or it gets dragged on for hours mind you he has little to do, I have tried play before homework, eat before homework, homework right after school, I am at a loss. I am against drugs. He takes multi vitamins, fish oil gummies and supplements for kids with ADHD. Please any suggestions would be helpful, I feel like I am drowning with no help in sight.

Hi. I aint psychologist to give you advices, but I learned one thing about ADHD. Michael Phelps is the greatest Olympian and we know that. He was diagnosed of ADHD when he was 4 or 5. So his mum asked about what could be the best outlet for his son, and a doctor adviced that swimming is the best outlet for kids like your son. So he enrolled Michael in a swimming lesson and when he reached 23, he grabbed 8 Olympic gold medals in swimming competition. Anyway, it's up to you. I just heard it from Phelps's mother. Who knows your son could be the next greatest Olympic swimmer too after 15 years. :)

you are against medicines, but you are drowning? if you really want help, you should go to your doctor. not all medicines are bad. if you really care about him, you will get him medicated... just because you are against it, doesn't mean it's not needed. if he was diabetic, would you refuse him insulin because it's artificial?

perhaps you could take him to see a doctor, i know you say you are against durgs (which i am as well) but maybe the doctor could give you some pointers on what you should do. My step son has ADHD and the doctor told us to try to encourage him and praise him when he does well, the doctor also suggested us to put him in some sort of sport to exercise some for the energy off, we did and believe it or not it really works. He still has him moments but not near as bad as before we signed him up for baseball.I hope all goes well i know its hard and good luck.

I, like you, have a 7-yr old son with ADHD. During his kg and half way through 1st grade, I was constantly have meetings with his teacher. Also like you, I was dead set against putting him on any medication. Then one day (with as little homework as he had in the 1st grade) I actually realized that it would take him from the time he got home until it was time for bed to finish said homework. (The only break he had was to eat!) I finally realized that I needed to do what was best for him and put my feelings aside. I found a great doctor, who understood my feelings, and she works with the medication that he is on. (Adderall).

It has also been explained that he CAN grow out of this, and that by middle or high school he can work this out. By then he will learn better self control, and won't need the mediciation.

Most people don't realize that there are many different medications out there, and they're not as bad as you would think. Also I found some multivitimians called Feed My Brain. My son takes 2 of these a day along with his medication. This year his grades have greatly improved, he's now taking more time with his reading, and has started work word search puzzles.

Trust me I know how you feel. I've been there. If you'd like you can e-mail me any time and I will try to help.

I dont beleive in ADHD or ADD or anything to that effect. I think you need to just sit down and really give him attention. Thats all he wants.
I feel that america makes up "disorders' to accomodate our laziness. We didn't have such disorders 50 years ago, but now all of a sudden we do.

Spend some one on one time with him and give him the attention he deserves. And you know, Dont be afraid to smack your kid. Every parent is so afraid to give their kid a good *** whooping .... if they are misbehaving, teach them not to. You let them go and get away with everything it's only going to get worse and then you get a 'disorder" labled to them.

sounds like his medication needs to be adjusted. Kids hit a growth spurt around the age of 7 and what he has been on may not be enough. Or you might even consider changing his meds all to gether. After a while, they do build up a resistance to some of the ADHD meds that are out there.

Modify his diet even more, make sure he isn't having any foods with red dye, including drinks. The red dye is very well known for aggravating ADHD. You might not have a choice and need to medicate him. I was against it for the longest time until I realized that I was doing a dis-service to my kids and the other kids in his class. Not only was he not learning, he was preventing other kids from learning and that just isn't fair. Our home life improved dramatically when he started his meds. The kids still fight but it's not like it used to be. There is less screaming, punching etc. They help around the house more often and do get all their work completed. Their grades are good and they are not getting the notes sent home nor going to the principal anymore.

First of all do not allow the ADHD to become an excuse. I had a 5th grader crawling on the floor (literally). After giving him the "What are you doing?!" look and asking him to get up off the floor he proceed to tell me in a snotty tone flat out 'Well I have ADHD so..." He was quickly interrupted by me telling him it was no excuse. And that he was never to use it as one in my class.

I apologize, I just had to get that out as a teacher. I am sure your son does not do this, but it can become an excuse for poor work rather than simply something needed to be coped with. I now teach 1st grade where more active planning is needed and as a result I see fewer with problems.

The privileges and rewards may help to some degree, but you must remember he cannot fully help what he is doing. I think diet plays a large roll in helping with ADHD, but so does behavior management. I have a little one in my class who probably has ADHD. Mom and I are on the same page, I email her everyday to tell her how he was at school and she does the same for me at home. Constant reminders of what he should be doing helps him a lot, but the best thing that has helped him is a timer. Its a simple $5 kitchen timer. I set it on the edge of his desk and tell him he has X amount of time to finish his work.

If the teacher has not already tried this I HIGHLY recommend it.

My son was diagnosed ADD in 3rd grade. We did not want to give him medication either. We went to see a family therapist who shared her own family story. She said that medication opens the door for the therapy needed, but the child does not have to take it forever.
A year later my mother gave me my old school records. For twelve years every teacher made comments like, "does not work up to potential, does not pay attention in class". I realized I still felt like that most of the time. I saw a doctor and now both my son and I are taking Adderall.
When someone is resistant to medication I tell them it is like not giving someone myopic, eye glasses, or hearing impaired, a hearing aid.

Your son is being prevented from making friends, enjoying school, and (apparently) privileges at home. And it's not all his fault. You are punishing him, but not helping him.

Once you have opened the door, come join us on adhdparentssupportgroup@yahoogroups.com. We have lots of tips on getting homework (and other stuff) done, (timers and alarms are key!). Communicating with your son and the school. Using positive reinforcements along with firm discipline to guide him.

Well my son is in KG and is having issues with behaving.. He told me today while taking him to school "Mom why did you have a son, its hard having a son who does not behaving isn't it?" I wanted to cry... And I told him that God wanted me to have him and No matter what I love him with all my heart.. Now beings that said. He has been misbehaving so much at school it has effected him like this... I believe there is something wrong with my son, What I have no freaking clue, However I think he gets it from me and my husband for sure... And I have found some herbs on line that you might want to give a try. I have ordered mine and I cant wait to see if they work.. Please note that the one link is a money back deal... So even if you are not happy you can send it back...

My heart goes out to you because I know damm good and well it hurts.. and now days schools don't care...

GL

Here is my take: my son is high strung and very active. We refuse to drug him because ritalin is more dangerous than cocaine. However we needed to make him focus and be alert and responsible. I do not believe in ADD or ADHD myself, but I do believe- as studies show children have a deficiency or food allergy that causes hyperactivity or being difficult or unable to focus. What did I do? I give my child OMEGA 3 (or Omega 6) and a multivitamin, with zinc, calcium etc. Some remove, dairy, wheat, or artificial preservatives. Studies show children improve 75% in 6 months of taking these particular vitamins. it worked for my son in a matter of days. Some brains lack Omega's and Omega is what makes you focus, makes you smart and makes you calm. Also children lack very important vitamins and minerals that will also cause undesirable traits. The fish oil gummies will be no effect. The fish oil needs to be a 300/500 ratio and very potent with potent ingredients. The children's gimmes are a gimmick at best with virtually not enough of the Omega to be any benefit. Talking to a hyper or unfocused child will not help them, they do not understand. And this issue is not a behavioral problem on the parents or child's behalf. MOST children have a food allergy or deficiency. Enroll your child in sports or other physical activities, my son is 8 and plays basketball, football, baseball ,and ju jit su. Check into the benefits or a good fish oil or OMEGA 3 or 6, and do some research on food allergies....It worked for us.

I highly reccomend fish oil (omega 3) tablets...
1 or 2 a day with water is really good, u will get results within weeks...

Dont worry i used to be just like that kid, i was the worst in grade 2-4, but since i had a really good teacher who believed in me from grade 5-7, i got better and better...

give it time, kids grow up... and now im acing school (skipped 2 grades, uni when i was 14, A's, music band, basketball team)