I used to get mad that my son had temper tantrums that lasted for hours,
they were very embarassing. We now know that he is autistic, which
explains his behavior. Does your son have any other unusual behaviors,
besides the tantrums? When my son is having a bad time, the only way to
deal with it is to hold him and comfort him. He calms down very
quickly.

I agree with Spider. Holding them can help. Even if they do not seem
like they want it at the time. Just hold him and rock him. Works for my
son as well.

unsure you and i remain on the same page here with children and ADHD.
Having had it myself and still suffering from the ADHD as an adult it
can be life altering. The ramifications from this disease can carry over
and no parent wants to see their child fail. I am sorry but they make
decent add and adhd medications now and more parents should at least
consider the benefits and truly mine has BENEFITED from his medication.

spidercmb mine is also autistic. The benefits of adderall with mine
helped him to SIT DOWN, FOCUS, and now he talks, reads, writes and gets
straight A's in school. 3 out of 4 boys with autism also have ADHD. I
salute the company that makes adderall and its truly been a HUGE part of
my boys overcoming his autism!

I used to work with a young boy who had ADD/ADHD..through a program
similar to the "big brother" system.

I believe children need a stable consistant plan of disipline. With ADD
you have to be very consistant with him. Let him know screaming matches
will not be an answer to leinancy in punishment. Be firm, if "type A"
episode happens...always use "type A" reaction. Changing variables will
make things more confusing for you both. He is a child and he is
testing your disipline right now. Only reward possitive begavior and
point out his attributes and possitive behavior.

I agree Barbie.A small dose of ritalin has worked wonders with my son.

I also have a child age 10 that has ADHD. And his life is so much better
from the med and the therepy.

I just want to say that the people in this group are wonderful people
giving great advice and are caring about it.

For all those parents that have or are living with a child with a
disablilty and are looking for answers or giving them.

Hats off to you for doing what is right for your children and yourself.

i feel ur pain. my oldest is adhd, along with being partially deaf,
ocd, and epileptic. meds are a godsend in his case. as far as the
temper tantrums go, i tend to cave a little, considering he is a very
emotional child. he doesnt get everything he wants, but i tend to
negotiate with him. seems to do the trick.

Thank you all for the advise everyone has touched on on epart or another
of what we are going through with him. to start with twin, yes my
brother and I (brother is daycare) keep our punishments and rewrds
pretty well together, and if he gets intot trouble one place (depending
on the issue of course) his punishment carries through. For example he
kicked my tv one friday night and I grounded him fromt he tv for the
weekend; this was in conjunction with other general misbehavior. When
he went to my brothers house, he had to stay in the bedroom when the
other kids watch a movie. He was allowed to play, get a drink, use the
bathroom but he could not come out and watch the movie, which was
painful for him ause it was a new realease he had been witing to see
.

As far as picking him up and holding him during a tantrum though I tend
to shy away from that cause a true tantrum (anger and frustration) I
will NOT tolerate nor reward. No I do not only give cuddle time or hugs
for rewrds, but I do not hug him for misbehavior either. However soon
as he calms down and starts trying to be respectful he is in my arms
immediately.

And along witht he adhd he also appears to suffer from ocd as well, and
he has gottten the klepto side of that I have to pat him down
whenever I take him to the store before we leave cause he will try and
load his pockets, and he is GOOD and QUICK about grabbing something
withough being seen!

I have not thought about autism before this, my nephew appears to have
mild autism so I know SOME of the symptons, but if some of you coud send
me a check list or something to look for with signs I would appreciate
it.

And hopefully I will be able to get him on the aderall soon, and not
riddlin. Sorry but I absolutely do nto like ridyllin.