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[quote=Anonymous]OP, I’m sorry. Of course you are exhausted! You’re getting some blunt responses that are honest but not particularly kind.

This behavior is not typical—not even for boys and not even for boys your children’s age. Imagine classrooms, camps, birthday parties, and child friendships if everyone kid acted this way. It just wouldn’t work.

Your kids do what they want because the reward is greater than the consequence. It seems like there may not be any consequence at all for them other than Mom getting fussy. Target one or two behaviors that have to change immediately to preserve your sanity. Perhaps the running and bedtime routines are a good start. Work on prevention first. If your kids run in public, eliminate their time in places where running is dangerous—like a restaurant or grocery. Then, when you go out together, they have to hold an adult’s hand. If a kid breaks loose and runs around in an inappropriate setting, scoop him up and bring him home—immediately and every time. Remind of a rule only once and then move to a consequence. It’s an entire pain, and it’s going to interrupt your plans, but so too will their behavior. You *have* to eliminate the perceived reward they get from non-compliance and show that your rules are consistent and enforced. Think of this like potty training; it’s not optional, and it makes your life so much easier.

Think also about logical consequences. If one of your children runs in the house, he goes back to where he started and walks. If he refuses, you have a consequence for not following adult directions. Be consistent. Wait them out. Carry them to their rooms for a timeout if necessary.

You also need to teach your kids calm. Help them exercise their energy in healthy ways. Aim for playground time or running in the early part of the day. Teach them self calming exercises for when they feel overly energetic, giggly, etc. You might try the Zones of Regulation curriculum at home.

If things don’t start changing after a few months of consistency, talk to your ped. The behavior could be a manifestation of ADHD or other issue.[/quote]

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