Support & Treatment for Preschoolers with ADHD

Parent Q&A

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  • Hi all,

    My son is very intelligent, can do addition, has known all his letters, shapes, sounds letters make, etc for a long time. He also seems to be exhibiting symptoms of adhd. He is too young to diagnose, 4 is the earliest. 

    I am told he has issues with self regulating and transitioning in his classroom from his teachers, this has been at 2 separate preschools so I don’t think it’s the teaching style. Right now, he’s in a class with a ratio 1:7. Teachers have told me that he works great 1:1 I agree and honestly, did not believe the preschool at first because my son listens and behaves fairly well and acts like a typical 3 years old with me. He will be starting Ecole Bilingue in Berkeley this fall, what has been other parents experiences in regards to support for their child there ? 

    I spoke to Kaiser and was told he’s too young for testing and they don’t provide 1:1 aides. 

    Any advice or support? Specialists, play groups, 1:1 aid, therapists, etc. 

    We had a good experience transitioning to EB for a kid that was a bit frustrated and also a bit frustrating in a truly excellent daycare. Also, the school has some flexibility built in - e.g. some kids come in with no French; some kids come in with no English. It also seems somewhat flexible, relative to other area schools, on whether kids with fall birthdays be in grades following the American system (Sept 1 cutoff) or the French system (Jan 1 cutoff). EB seems to have a nice social-emotional learning curriculum, and a large learning differences team. 

    We had a similar issue. I'd suggest exploring pediatric Occupational Therapy to see if that could help with transitions + self-regulation. Full Circle in Oakland is amazing. 

    He may be asynchronous aka gifted. He may have ADHD also but sometimes it’s hard to tell between the two. There are some clinics or schools that can perform an assessment but they could get expensive. 

    EB has been great accommodating kids at their own pace. For kids that are “bright” and have no French, if that is the case for you, I think the “learning a second language” can help with the disruptive tendencies. Kids who are bored can be disruptive. They are also open to skipping grades for kids, though the parents have mixed feelings given the social implications, but there are no right answers.

    also, the French culture seems to have “firm but kind” down pat. We’ve experienced disruptive children in classes and I have been impressed with the teacher’s management.

    Fingers crossed he enjoys it!

    We have a same aged child who is similar, very high energy. We find it’s helpful if he has time to be active outside before school for 30-60 minutes and specifically looked for a school that can accommodate additional active time outdoors (child’s leap lakeview)   

    Agreed that 3 is too young, 4-5 is borderline, 6 (and must be in school) is preferable for making a diagnosis; the NICHQ Vanderbilt Assessment Scale is validated in kids 6+. An ADHD diagnosis has to be made in two out of two different settings (home and school). If it is only in one setting, then there's something else going on.

    Toddlers change so much and often don't know how to behave in different situations. This is developmentally normal at this age. Socialization and teaching him how to identify his feelings (after that you can teach some regulation like deep breaths or asking to be excused) can be a good first start. Kids don't inherently know how to self-regulate or transition, just like they don't know the alphabet or colors. These skills needs to be taught, and some kids need a little more help than others.

    I can't speak on advice or support regarding ADHD but for your second question my daughter attended EB from preschool thru Elementary. While my family definitely enjoyed our time at EB and we didn't need any additional support I did know several families who ended up leaving at some point or another as their children had behavioral issues, such as ADHD, and they didn't receive the support they needed/wanted from the school. EB, like most private schools I would imagine, do not have state-funded resources like public schools would to support children who need additional help. Your son might grow out his current issues but if not you might need to consider public schools who have the necessary resources. What I can say is that EB is great in providing language support for children who come from non-French families. While we are a French-American family and my daughter didn't need support, one of her classmates had weekly private lessons after school to help with their language struggles.

    Try to not call them “issues” even if the daycare or school does (this will lead to insecurity / anxiety which will bring with its own set of behavioral challenges), let him run around / exert himself as much as he can / needs / wants as this is the best non pharmacological treatment of ADHD, 1:1 tutoring is the best because it’s individualized and presents instructions / breaks down transitions into manageable bits, don’t see any issue whatsoever with going to a bilingual school other than what a unilingual school will also present, his intelligence will allow him over time to overcome many of the struggles that ADHD will bring him though he won’t be able to do this until he’s much older and mature - so do your best to minimize any trauma that comes with the territory (I’m not good enough / I can’t do this / I have an issue) 

    kaiser is probs not the best place to get an early and aggressive ADHD diagnosis, if you’re that concerned pay out of pocket at a specialized center but I would say just let him be for a few years and see if it wasn’t just being a normal toddler, good luck! 

    Hey there! My oldest is neurodivergent and she benefited from Occuptional therapy to help regulate her body and also speech therapy to regulate her mind to match her language. My daughter went to Full Circle Collective to get OT and Speech Therapy, The speech therapist there had a TALK YOGA group too where she grouped kids together of smiliar ages and worked through language and self-regulation  https://www.talkyogaslp.com/ https://www.speechandlanguagewithsupreet.com/

    Challenges with self-regulation and transitions combined with early acquisition of knowledge sounds a lot like 2e — the “twice-exceptional” constellation associated with Autism Spectrum — ASD can and should be diagnosed as early as 3. I realize there may be behaviors you are seeing that are more congruent with ADHD but there’s lots of overlap. If you haven’t yet explored the possibility of ASD I recommend you talk with your PCP ASAP. 

    My child didn’t “seem autistic” to all of the specialists (OT/PT, play therapy, CBT) I dragged him to over the years, but finally at age 12 he was evaluated properly and diagnosed. I wish I had started with my PCP instead of specialists….

  • Meds for 4.5 year old with ADHD?

    Dec 6, 2017
    12 replies

    Hi Everyone-

    My 4 1/2 year old is presenting symptoms that look a lot like ADHD. Yes, he is 4.5, but he can't sit still long enough to finish a meal, do a lego project or finish an art project at school. He is constantly in motion. He runs everywhere he goes. This afternoon I picked him up early (because he was out of control at school) he came home and knocked the Christmas tree over. I think it was an accident, but it still happened. His teachers are nearing toward their wits end with him and I'm sick and tired hearing complaint after complaint about him from other parents and his teachers. He is at a lovely school, but I feel like we are at a crossroads. I took him to see Dr. Herbert Schreirer at CHO after being referred to him by our pediatrician at Berkeley Pediatrics. I filled out a general questionnaire before our visit and checked all the boxes that applied. Needs a lot of supervision: check. Frequently blurts out in class: check. Difficulty sticking to play activities: check. The list goes on. When we went to see the doctor last week, he told me after 4 minutes of reading the form that I had described an ADHD child and that a good course of action would be to try a low dose of Ritalin-right off the bat. I was shocked. He hadn't even talked to observed my son, but maintained that he had ADHD. At first, I wanted to get up and walk out, but then as we talked more, everything he said made sense and that early intervention is the best way to go.  

    Our son is electrically charged. He is exuberant, loud, loving, rambunchuous among many other wonderful qualities. But when it comes to comparing him to other kids in his class and age group, he is an outlier for sure. Has anyone out there medicated a 4.5 year old for ADHD? Is it crazy to medicate? Lately it seems crazy not to. So we find ourselves in a quandary wondering do we switch schools? medicate? do both? 

    Thank you!!

    I am just a mom who wants to help my son thrive

    I'd recommend contacting the HALP clinic at UCSF. There may be a long-ish wait to get in, but their assessments are thorough and covered by many health insurance plans. They may advise medication as well, but first they will be able to give you a much deeper understanding of your son's neuro-cognitive profile. It's fascinating and I felt very confident in choosing medication after going over the results with the psychologists there. 

    My son also very clearly had ADHD by age 4. No doubt in my mind or the Dr’s. He had every single symptom on the checklist (to the extreme). But I also hesitated to start medication because he just seemed so young. 

    I finally gave in and started giving him Ritalin rx when he was 9 and I have to tell you the transformation in him was so amazing I have always regretted not having him start much sooner. 

    He spent ages 4-9 being disliked by all of his teachers and potential friends because the ADHD made him so hard to be around. There was a huge cost to both his self-esteem and his academics. 

    I understand your fear and concerns but if I had it to do over again I would absolutely have started medication at your child’s age. 

    Hi there,

    I totally understand your frustration as you always want to do the right thing by your kid. My 4 year old is pretty hyper as well and has sensory processing issues which results into not being able to focus on certain tasks for a long time and he is also constantly in motion!. But what I have seen is that as he is growing older things are changing for the better! We work on a daily basis with his class teacher to monitor any behavior triggers throughout the day and then come with strategies together. An example is moving heavy things gets him to a calmer state so his teacher lets him help out and move chairs before doing any project work. We also set expectations before every task both at home and school, example lunch time is coming up  "your body needs to be on the seat while eating"! small things like these have certainly helped, but its definitely a LOT of work.

    My take is that before resigning to medication, work with the teacher to identify patterns and set strategies that you use consistently both at home and at school and then report out what you see work at home and vice versa. Good luck!!

    Hi Mom! I know how you feel. We are battling the same issue, except our son is not 4.5, he's 12. We saw symptoms early elementary, but did nothing, dismissed it because we didn't want the label. Now, we find ourselves were we should have been 4 years ago, but at least we have the wisdom and informed decision if deciding to medicate, which we probably will very soon. There should be a few more "hoops" to the medication route,  not simply looking at your son and saying he has it and let's give him a prescription. There should be a psych eval at least.  I would like to discuss offline, I have more info I can share, but prefer not to type. I would recommend CHAD as a place for support and answers to your questions. There is also ADDitude magazine as well, plus many others. Good luck and God bless!

    Dr. Schreier is one of the top psychiatrists in his field. If you weren't already seeing him, I would refer you. He has worked with our son's and will keep working with yours to find the right medication and balance. I understand your hesitation to use meds, but the flip side is not medicating and dealing with social consequences. In this Era they can be extreme. Also possible self esteem issues in adolescence.

    The decision about how to best help a child with ADHD is certainly challenging.  Ultimately, it is an individual decision.  

    When one of my kids was diagnosed, I had the same reaction as you.  I knew my child was challenging.  I talked with the pediatrician, who referred us to a specialist.  When the specialist diagnosed our child with ADHD, we initially did not want to believe it, either.  We certainly did not want to medicate our child.  Then we went to a class that Kaiser offered about ADHD medication, and it really changed our minds.  In the class, the doctors agreed that they would really love to find an alternative treatment that works and reviewed all the treatments that Kaiser has evaluated over the years (the Feingold diet, eliminate sugar, take Omega 3, Chinese herbs, etc), and the only treatment that has consistently worked so far is ADHD medication.  So, we started a drug trial for our son.  It took almost 2 months to find a medication and dose that worked without unpleasant side-effects.  Our son has been on medication for 3 ½ years, and I would never want to go back.  Medication allows my child to calm down and concentrate.  Life at home is usually peaceful now, and homework is not a torture anymore.   It is not a magic bullet, though.  My child still has trouble planning and organizing.  

    Please don’t feel bad about wanting your child to thrive, nor feel bad if you do choose to medicate.  You clearly love and adore your child, and I’m sure you will always have his best interests at heart no matter how you decide to proceed.

    Oooh! I will get flamed for this, so going anon, but he might be doing you a huge favor. We were in the same position, made to feel like criminals for our son's behavior. If we'd known it was ADHD earlier it would have helped him (and us) so much.

    I've said it before, I'll say it again: spare yourself the $3,000.00 evaluation. Give him one Ritalin tablet. If he speeds up, he doesn't have ADHD. If he slows down, he does.

    It'll be out of his system forever in four hours, so if you don't choose to medicate, no harm done. But at least you'll know. It is a brain chemistry issue -- not behavioral, and probably runs in one of your families. You will probably have to choose between medicating and his self esteem (difficulties in class, difficulties with friends). We chose the former, but he was 8 before we figured it out, and spent a ton of money in the process. I wish someone had told me about the one pill and an hour of observation. Good luck! Ours weaned off meds at 17 (their brains mature) and is doing well in college now!

    You will likely get a lot of fired up responses here. I would be very cautious before medicating your preschool age kid. I have had issues with my youngest son - slightly different, but challenging in that he would not always focus. Turns out he is very smart and processes things slowly. Some of it could be boredom. High IQ kids don't always want to follow the standard. Schools try to create an environment that they expect kids to follow, but that's not always realistic for some kids. Also, I would look at his diet. If he is eating any processed food, this could have an adverse effect. Boys are active. Don't try to make him fit in a box. Some kids are more difficult than others. Patience. 

    Hi,
    As the parent of a toddler who I basically only medicate for high fevers, I totally understand the horror (and honestly, the allure - after the fourth nighttime awakening to blow a nose) in the idea of medicating a young child, especially on an ongoing basis. However, as a pediatric neuropsychologist, what I often talk to parents about are the "side effects" of not addressing ADHD. Chances are, your son is not unaware of all the feelings that accompany the complaints you ultimately hear. Your description of your son as an "outlier," and concrete examples such as knocking over the Christmas tree, as well as the feedback you've received from teachers and other parents suggest you are struggling with something unusual. I find parents almost always have a really good handle on their children, even if they don't always know how to make sense of all the pieces. What I look for is the point at which the child starts to exhibit a decline in self-esteem (in terms of social relationships, academics, even family relationships) related to the ADHD symptoms. I've seen smart kids calling themselves dumb, nice kids without friends, and high family conflict with the most loving and psychologically-minded parents. Those are the stories that break my heart. So, no, I don't think it's crazy to medicate if you feel concerned about your son's trajectory, and there is a ton to be said for early intervention. Medication often takes a bit of finnessing to get right, so I encourage families not to give up too soon, but it also leaves the system pretty quickly, so if you decide it was the wrong move, it is easily reversed. Ideally, medication is paired with a range of other interventions, and often allows kids to access environmental supports more readily. It's always worth talking to the school to see what strategies they are using and what resources they have available, and perhaps seeking an outside consult with someone who can suggest new ideas and support their implementation.

    Your son is lucky to have you on his team, and you will be one of his biggest assets as he navigates the coming years. I've come to realize self-doubt is integral to the struggle to be a good parent, and there isn't always a "right way" to be found, despite how I might wish for it. So all we can do is listen to our instincts and do our best.

    I heard of a school in Berkeley (private) which does tons of martial arts, as part of the school! It has worked great for my friend's son who was like you describe yours.

    Our younger son was in a similar situation to yours at 5 years old in kindergarten.   After full evaluation by a well respected psychologist, and with the concurrence of our pediatrician, he started on stimulant medication.  He is now 24 years old, so I have some perspective on the journey.  Our son has been actively involved in decision making and med management from the outset.  Response to stimulant medication was immediate and obvious to all, including my son,—both when taking meds--and more tellingly on occasional days of missed pills.  In addition to being able to participate in school, it helped with his social interactions, and family relationships.

    Medications are NOT a panacea.  Parenting skills, encouragement, therapy, school setting have all been important and different stages have presented different challenges.  Social interactions have been challenging, and episodes of being bullied have been difficult.  Currently I would say anxiety (somewhat hard-wired) and depression are bigger issues.  But he is living independently and working full time, albeit not at the job of his dreams...So I wish you and your family all the best in this complex situation--trust your judgment, and professionals that make sense, and don't reflexively refuse medication when it can be a tool which lets your child participate.  Also--as our pediatrician said to us back almost 20 years ago--it's a marathon, not a sprint...

    Our son is almost 8 but preschool was when his adhd was really obvious, super challenging and especially difficult in school, group and unstructured settings. His adhd in preschool got him asked to leave a few preschools  because they “couldn’t handle him” and his big emotions. He never got invited to birthday parties or playdates and i never knew what to expect for his behavior so as a parent I walked on eggshells waiting for the next outburst. 

    I later learned adhd and anxiety play a huge part in how he relates to the world, in addition to being a sensory sensitive kid. Life with my son Is still challenging but some maturity on his part has helped as well as our acceptance of him, the situation and our ability to make modifications to our lives so he/we are more successful has been key. We tried everything to avoid adhd medicine for him from elimination diets to behavior modification tactics, OT, and holistic methods but in the end medicine has made all the difference and I wish we would have considered medication sooner. The key is finding a good psychiatrist/doctor whom you work with closely to determine the right med and monitor closely. We did not have a good experience with stimulant meds but at your sons age that might be your only option. Other key pieces of advice, get some good sitters so you can have your bucket full to take care of him. Have this sitter help run some play dates and make everything short sweet and successful. get a therapist who can help you through the grieving process of having a “different” kid. Our son is so smart and creative and he wouldn’t be him without adhd but there is a sense of loss that your child’s life and your family doesn’t operate the same as other families. Get your parenting under control so your son has clear limits and expectations. Kids who are on the go generally deal in black and white which is why video games are so alluring. Plus they want new and novel experiences. Structure is key. Scheduling the day with pictures and a chart will help your child who’s likely disorganized to start learning those skills. Above all else watch your kids self esteem because your kid knows or will know he’s different. If he gets in trouble a lot at school you may want to evaluate his placement. He needs lots of positivity and redos and he does not need the label of bad kid - but adhd kids get that label fast and furious. Watch your connection with him. Keep it strong and safe and loving. Make sure you have special time together every day.  Karate and tae kwon do at the right place is super helpful. 

Archived Q&A and Reviews


Pre-schooler diagnosed with ADHD - treatment?

May 2012

My 4 1/2 year old son was just diagnosed with ADHD. I'm not surprised but I am somewhat alarmed by the strong recommendation to medicate him. My husband, mother and mother-in-law are strongly against it but I'm torn. I don't want to medicate my kid for the rest of his life (as the literature would suggest we do), but if he is able to more fully live up to his potential (personally, academically and socially) wouldn't I be doing him a disservice NOT to medicate? I'm really just looking for personal stories from people who have experience with ADHD - either themselves, or as the parents of a child with it. Did you medicate or not? Why did you choose to/not to medicate? What has your experience been - good, bad or otherwise? Besides parenting classes and/or behavioral modifications, did you use or explore any alternatives? If so, what, and did you find it helpful/useful or a waste of time? Thanks in advance. ADHD Mom


Please consider thoughtfully your child's individual situation and the credibility of the medical evaluation/advice you are getting and do what is best for that child--not fall in with doctrinaire ''against medication'' mindsets.

My son was diagnosed with ADD in kindergarten, in addition to focal learning issues. It has been a long and complex route, including parenting classes, therapy, small private schools, social skills, etc etc. But medication has made an ENORMOUS difference for him. With medication, he can participate in academic learning and is able to have social interactions. When he misses a day (inadvertantly), teachers and camp counselors IMMEDIATELY recognize it (he takes a short-acting stimulant), and come running to us to say he can no longer participate in the situation. He recognizes the value himself--from the start, we discussed medication with him and kept him in the decision making loop. Next year he is going off to the college he wanted, with a merit scholarship. We know it will continue to be complex, but I doubt we would have gotten to this stage without the help of medication. responsible parent


I just purchased a computer program and headset from Neurosky.com that is specially geared to help kids with ADHD (apparently, all kids can benefit from it, though). The program/game is called Focus Pocus. I can't vouch for it's effectiveness, since we just got it, but the youtube video and the description of the program make it look like a promising treatment option for ADHD. hoping this works


We are struggling with the same decision right now for our 6-1/2 year old due to major distractibility...and ''academic'' difficulties in Kindergarten (don't get me started about that). BUT, the first thing I though when I saw your post is that 4-1/2 is way too young to diagnose and medicate ADD. I feel like 6- 1/2 is too young, really. Many kids will just naturally grow out of behaviors that could be labeled ADD as they mature. It runs in our family on both sides, so my son likely will need medication somewhere along the line if other environmental adjustments are not helpful. Good luck with your decision. I know it's a difficult one and I look forward to hearing others respond to your post. It's just hard to imagine that a 4-1/2 year old is not ''living up to their potential''. -Disheartened by Pressure on Kids Today


My son was also diagnosed at a young age, and I was also someone who hated the idea of medicating my child, but I can tell you with the utmost sincerity that it has changed all our lives for the better. He is able to handle so much more with the medication. I explained to him like the literature says that he has a race car brain with bicycle brakes and that the medicine helps his brakes match his car. It literally speeds up the process to make everything match better and work more efficiently. He is a VERY challenging kid with VERY challenging behaviors and yet is incredibly smart (doing high school levels in testing at the age of eight)so I feel like this is giving him the help he needs to develop the good stuff he has. He takes 20 mg of Ritalin LA (the long acting slower into and out of the system kind)You can try it and if you all don't like it, either stop with your doctor's help or try something else. We were lucky enough to have just tried two (we started with Ritalin LA, tried Focalin, then went back.)Good luck! Best for the brakes.


I want to first off offer you my general support: parenting ADHD kids takes patience and self-awareness beyond what I imagined. I encourage you to get support, especially from other ADHD parents (as you are doing here!) through groups like CHADD and PPSNK (local listserv that offers amazing support for all special needs kids). I also highly recommend the book ''Transforming the Difficult Child: The Nurtured Heart Approach'' by Howard Glasser.

Regarding medication, who is ''strongly recommending'' this and what is their personal stake in seeing you do so? We only recently began medicating our 10 year old, who was diagnosed at age 6. We work with a doctor, Marianna Eraklis, who has been supportive of our decision to hold off. She and others suggested to us that we see how our daughter did with other kinds of supports and accommodations, and keep medicating in our back-pocket (metaphorically) for a time when school seemed especially challenging (and as many predicted, that time came at fourth grade, when school becomes more academic). Our daughter is bright, but has trouble focusing, and the structure of the classroom can be challenging for her (its not really the structure, its the lack of stimulation -- she likes high intensity environments). We have given her a number of other supports to help along the way, including social skills training (Communication Works in Oakland) and briefly Occupational Therapy, and have read a great deal, and learned some tricks for managing things at home (many from the Glasser book). Age 4 seems young to medicate, but I don't know the nature of the struggles your child is having or how they are effecting things. Still, I think trying to change other things first makes sense, as you can always turn to meds later. Is your child struggling at school? It has been very important for our daughter that her schools be places where she can get a lot of stimulation: sitting quietly is not her thing, and some schools/classes offer more opportunities for multisensory input and more chances to move around. I should think there would be a number of preschools that would be great for that. In regards to maximizing your child's potential, I don't know that meds really do that. I think they help ADHD comport in an environment that requires a particular kind of behavior (schools) but their natural potential often blossoms in other arenas (arts, sports, or learning environments that are more hands on and immersive). I'd recommending trying out some of these other things first. Best of luck! Mother of an amazing, creative, sparkling kid


I am an elementary school teacher, I have a high-school age son who has ADHD (Inattentive Type), and I have recently been diagnosed with ADHD with not much surprise after all I've read about it within the last 6 years or so. I have seen almost miraculous results in my students from medication, and medication has also helped my son and DEFINITELY myself.

My son was diagnosed in middle school, and he is a HS senior right now. He was a very high scorer all the way up to 5th grade or so, always Advanced on the CST scales. None of the teachers EVER mentioned a problem because I think he's not hyperactive, just not focused. Because of his age at the time of his beginning the meds, it was a battle against a certain level of resistance on his part. I don't think it will be as difficult with a small child. It's very sad to see children unable to read by 3rd grade because they are unable to focus long enough to even listen, or they are totally unable to stop talking. I was totally against medication for a long time because of the ''urban legends'' about it, but I have made a 180 degree turn.

I would suggest you approach the pediatrician with a request for the smallest dosage possible, and work your way up. This could amount to say, 5 mg of Adderall perhaps given twice a day. Take a look at this wonderful website: www.chadd.org To find the right medication is not an easy task, but keep trying. If you are able, go in and observe your child at school to get a clear picture of how the medication is affecting him/her. If you can't go yourself, ask the teacher(s) to give a report daily in a notebook that goes back and forth between you and them. This doesn't have to be an essay every day, just a note to let you know their opinion on how your child behaves with the med. I've seen kids on too high a dosage almost fall asleep (from a stimulant!), and I've seen kids who obviously need the medication increased or changed. Don't believe alarmist statements. It's a slow process to find the right med, but it is WORTH it. Good luck. ADHD and happy to have found out


hi - i've got 2 kids with ADHD. both are taking medication. when my youngest was diagnosed he was 5. he was in preschool and getting ready to go to kindergarten. he was in a special, full inclusion (BUSD) preschool for his special needs. i remember this vividly because it was April and the teacher sadly told me he was not on track to attend kindergarten in the fall because he just couldn't grasp the curriculum he was being taught.

he started meds that month. by June she said he had the most dramatic turnaround she had seen in a kid. the medication allowed him to calm down enough to 'let the learning in'. she recommended he go to kindergarten with no reservations.

its not all honey and roses - he still has issues. but i found medication allowed him to just slow down, focus and have the attention needed to learn in our schools. he is not a zombie by any means. he can simply stay focused at school to sit on the rug and listen, learn and then do his work effectively.

the days i've run out of his meds or somehow forgotten (rare), his teachers tell me they had to peel him off the walls and no work got done. they were in triage mode with him.

my son has a BAD case of ADHD, so may not be the same as your child. but i doubt my son would have progressed as he has if i chose not to medicate him. just another mother's story


My oldest son has ADHD. He is now 14 yo and been on medication since he was about 9 yo. He is much more successful in school on medication, currently Vyvanse. He has never really had trouble with academics, more with social situations, talking out of turn, joking, argumentative, etc. Outside of school, he is happier and more fun off the meds, but has alot of energy. As he gets older, he is more able to be sucessful without medication. He had a psych eval last year which indicated he had some ADHD issues and IQ scores in the genius range. This was interesting because when he was evaluated when he was 8 yo, the doctor who tested him at that time said his ADHD was severe, which we felt was absolutely incorrect.

You do not address what kinds of behavior your son presents relating to his ADHD. When my son was in preschool he had trouble with empathy,cooperative tasks that involved focus on other children, and biting (yikes!) There were lots of meetings at school every year regarding his behavior, I think Kindergarten year was the worst. After moving him from private school to public school, we started trying medication and he was much more successful which boosted his self esteem considerably.

Another note, my neighbor's son is in first grade and is taking Adderal during school but not in the summer or on weekends, and is doing quite well in school. He is very bright and recognizes the focus the medication gives him in school.

I would trust your instincts with the meds, without knowing what issues you are facing with your son it is hard to give advice, but preschool seems so early to start meds but only you can know for sure. East Bay Mom