help with an overly wiggly child

[kaybee]

I just got back from conferences with my 2nd grader's teacher.  He's a pretty smart kid, and as we expected, he's ahead of the curve on almost everything.  We weren't expecting to hear how disruptive he's become.  Apparently he's just really wiggly, maybe beyond the point of wiggly.  Throwing arms and legs out, falling out of his chair, rolling on the floor, etc.  His teacher is working really hard with him to give him his space but not be disruptive to others, and we really like her, but I just don't know what to do about this. 

He really hasn't been like this before in school.  We had a few bad weeks last year, but it was not the norm.  I've noticed he's more active at home than he used to be, but I didn't realize he was being so out of control at school.  He has a very supportive teacher who is trying to understand him and work with his need to move around, but I want to help at home, too.  I think part of it is that he's more comfortable in this classroom than last year, but that doesn't make his behavior ok.  He's also not working well in groups, deliberately being silly to the point of being disruptive. 

Anyone had experience with this?  Any ideas?  I'm at a bit of a loss.  We are going to try and institute some positive reinforcement at home for good behavior at school, but that's so remote.  His teacher said she'd do the same.  He seems to respond better to positive reinforcement of good behavior than negative consequences. 

I'm sure some of it is linked to being bored with the school work, but not all of it.

Help!

[pianojazzgirl]

That is a tough one!  I don't have a ton of ideas, but I had a couple of thoughts.  You say that even at home he's been kind of bouncing off the walls.  Would it be possible for you to sign him up for some really physical after-school and/or weekend activities?  Or otherwise try and wear him out (family soccer games, going for runs... I don't know)?  Maybe part of the problem is that he isn't getting enough of an outlet for that pent-up energy?

Another thought was - has anything changed re. his diet?  Has this been more since Halloween (ie. has he been having more candy than usual)?  Is there anything you could change in his diet that might help?

I also agree that some of it might have to do with being bored with his schoolwork.  Have you talked about that with his teacher?  Does she have any ideas of how to keep his mind more occupied (puzzles or story writing or something that he could do when he's done with his classwork)?  I'm thinking back to when I was in 3rd grade.  I would finish all my work really quickly and then I'd be bored, bored, bored.  I'd talk and laugh and disrupt the class and drove my poor teacher bonkers!  I actually ended up skipping grade 4 which was just what I needed to have work at a more appropriate level. 

[JollyGG]

Personally, I would try and give him more constructive outlets for his wiggles. I'd try things like a stress ball to play with, a seat cushion like this, etc. I'd also ask if it is a specific time of day, a specific subject, or if there is any pattern to when he has the most trouble. I would also try and figure out if the materials he's working on are at the appropriate challenge level and if they aren't try to get them a bit closer.

[kaybee]

Thanks for the suggestions.  After school he's in a YMCA after school care program where he usually gets lots of exercise (more than he used to when he just went to daycare).  I did think about Halloween candy, but I don't think that's it either - we're pretty strict at limiting candy consumption.  I'm not sure what to change in his diet to reduce wiggliness, to be honest.  Any ideas?

His teacher is really working with him both to give him space and to give him extra things to do.  I know he's not challenged, and I think she knows that, too.  She has him working on extra reading packets and gives him extra math sheets.  She's trying to find his limit, She is trying which is a vast improvement from last year.  I think in part his behavior is related to him feeling really comfortable in class this year, which is a good thing even if it's not being expressed well. 

Thanks for the suggestions.  Maybe we'll look into a ball to sit on.  His teacher actually brought that up, too, so she would probably be amenable to one in her classroom (although those are even easier to "fall" off of than his chair...).

Thanks!