[jewelsJZ]

Ds is 4.5, diagnosed with mild SPD and an anxiety disorder. ADHD has not been ruled out.
He's functioning very, very well, lots of improvements from the concerning behaviors that he used to have.
However, here's what we are now struggling with: he makes noises. Very loud, I don't care if he makes the noises but I just need the volume turned down. We ask him repeatedly to be quieter or to stop and after about the 4th time of telling him, he stops. But maybe this is not the best way to handle it. I want to understand why he does this.
Secondly, he runs around crazy, out of control every night right after dinner and any time there are other kids over here to play. He refuses to use the trampoline anymore. It is too cold to take him outside and even when we do, it doesn't work, when he comes back in, he continues.
I've tried getting out toys and activities or having very structured playdates, but he won't play with them. Just runs around and escalates until someone gets hurt. Nearly every playdate, he has to be sent up to his room to calm down. I am tired of constantly threatening him to send him to his room or not have any more playdates. That isn't really an option, because his sister deserves to have playdates too and I deserve to have mommy friends over so I have adult interaction.
Literally the second his friend left today, he sat calmly on the couch and watched t.v., then went and got his aquadoodle and played quietly by himself. I could get him to do nothing of the sort while the other kid was here. This is a child he knows well, sees every day at school and absolutely loves, so he's really comfortable around him.
I just want to understand why he does this and have a better way to handle it. His therapist is on maternity leave and I am having a baby myself in 6 days so a therapy appt. isn't possible right now.
Any insights you all have would be greatly, greatly appreciated! Thank you.

 

[ozziemum]

Poor love! You must be tired. My son is a bit like this too. He is 6 in April. He also gets a bit 'hyper' around other kids, but settles calmly when they go. I find that he has TONS of energy and long walks and running around outside helps burn some of this off. (easy in Australia, but not so easy for you I recognise). The other thing that helps him, and this was suggested by our OT, is to move really heavy things around either by pushing them around the floor or carrying them around the house. Even putting some heavy books in a backpak and getting him to wear it helps heaps. He used to make noises too. He has stopped now (so there is hope!), and I think at the time he was playing in his head at being in a plane or driving a car etc. There was always a reason that was clear to him, just not to me! It drove me crazy. Sometimes he was being a cash register at a supermarket - beep beep beep. Or being a car driving over bumps in the road - gahdunk gahdunk gahdunk. I started to sing out loud to maintain sanity at a reasonable level. Good luck with the new babe and best wishes.

 

[tigermiep]

How cold is too cold? With enough clothing, anything can be healthy for a short time, and the fresh air and movement might be just the thing he needs, as you have suggested. It sounds like he's really stimulated and happy to have his friends around, but not sure what to do with that energy. Making sure that playdates occur in a place where he can safely run and yell might make things less stressful for you, as you work on figuring out how to best deal with the behaviors.

 

[TruthSetMeFree]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tigermiep How cold is too cold? With enough clothing, anything can be healthy for a short time, and the fresh air and movement might be just the thing he needs, as you have suggested. It sounds like he's really stimulated and happy to have his friends around, but not sure what to do with that energy. Making sure that playdates occur in a place where he can safely run and yell might make things less stressful for you, as you work on figuring out how to best deal with the behaviors.

With my son, playground playdates were Wonderful! Indoor playgrounds tend to be too expensive, but ask if they give any discount for kids with Special Needs. There is a place nearby here called "Bonkers" that gives a slice of pizza, a soft drink, and a few tokens for each visit to kids with Special Needs. It's worth asking, even if it is a rare treat. I couldn't afford to go there regularly, but it was a great resource when the windchill factor was below 0.
Does brushing or a weighted blanket help?