Ask yourself why you think he has a problem?

ADHD is poorly named. It is a disorder of executive functioning, not a disorder of too much energy. Even the people who wrote the DSM later agreed the criteria was too broad and pathologized normal behaviour.

If you are interested in learning more about ADHD, Dr. Russell Barkley has lots of videos on youtube and he is a veteran in the field.

Anonymous wrote:He does it all and he loves it because he has the energy. Does this mean ADHD? If it is ADHD, I will say DS has been able to keep it together and it hasn’t affected him academically. If he’s ok so far, can I assume this will continue to be a positive thing, or does this tend to fall apart in middle school? We haven’t gotten him tested and straight up asked teachers about what typical for his age. Each teacher has said he is not out of the norm. He’s also able to relax at home and sit down with a book for an hour.

Why are you jumping to this conclusion OP? Please do your boy a favor and leave him alone. Don't go looking for trouble.

How old is he? My son was like that. I got him into swimming. Also, it takes a while to learn to swim. To speed up the process sign him up for individual lessons and sign him up for summer swim.

Could be, but ask yourself if a diagnosis would change anything or not?

My son was active and energetic from birth but also had extreme difficulty regulating emotions, following instructions, keeping hands to himself, and it was those things that required intervention to help him succeed. It wasnt that he could run farther, talk more, and had 1 million interests. Those things dont hinder social and academic performance (well maybe the talking).

Is your child messy? Forgetful? Easily agitated? Walks in tona room and forgets why he is there? Constantly interupts? Dazed and in their own head? These symptoms do tend to mean more in middle or high school when demands pile up. If its just hyperactivity, puberty actually usually helps.

Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure he is. He’s done swimming lessons for 2 years and has yet to make it to swim team level. He’s tried soccer and basketball but no love for those. Not enough to do two year in a row, but he just told me he wants to do soccer again.

DP. Then sign him up for soccer again. Maybe he needs a different swim program or a different approach to swimming (my kid progressed as a swimmer when she went to a camp where she swam every day for two weeks, the weekly lessons were not right for her).

He might not be a future sports star but sports are incredibly good for kids, especially the kind of kids who like exercise and need to burn off energy. You might also try different kinds of sports, including non-competitive ones. Rock climbing, gymnastics/tumbling, skate boarding. Does he like going out on his bike? Get him more opportunities for that.

If he doesn't have problems, forget about ADHD.

People think everything is ADHD these days. I constantly hear people talking about normal, even stereotypical kid behaviors as a problem that can be "solved" with an ADHD diagnosis.

But if a kid has no academic, mental health, or social issues, then who cares? He doesn't have a problem. Most kids are pretty active and energetic. It's not like the average kid is very sedate and quiet and then only the outliers like running around a playground or are talkative and excited. That's most kids! It's good. Embrace it.

Stop trying to diagnose your kid, meet his needs whatever they are (sounds like he needs plenty of outdoor time and could benefit from organized sports and a school that guarantees activity).

I’m not sure he is. He’s done swimming lessons for 2 years and has yet to make it to swim team level. He’s tried soccer and basketball but no love for those. Not enough to do two year in a row, but he just told me he wants to do soccer again.

No. It means he is an athlete. Get him into sports.

He does it all and he loves it because he has the energy. Does this mean ADHD? If it is ADHD, I will say DS has been able to keep it together and it hasn’t affected him academically. If he’s ok so far, can I assume this will continue to be a positive thing, or does this tend to fall apart in middle school? We haven’t gotten him tested and straight up asked teachers about what typical for his age. Each teacher has said he is not out of the norm. He’s also able to relax at home and sit down with a book for an hour.