As with any medication, Ritalin should only be prescribed by a doctor and taken strictly on his or her recommendation. Ritalin is usually used to treat attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children over the age of 6. For a 4-year-old child, it may be too early to start taking Ritalin because his or her brain is still in a developmental stage.

If your child has concentration and behavioral problems, see your doctor for a diagnosis and appropriate treatment. You may be offered other treatments, such as therapy, dietary changes, or exercises to improve concentration.

It is important to remember that Ritalin can have side effects such as insomnia, loss of appetite and headaches. Therefore, you should carefully discuss all possible risks and benefits of taking Ritalin with your doctor.