"the word-of-mouth survival guide for BOSTON parents"
I have a beautiful four-year-old girl who is amazingly sharp, funny, witty and constantly entertaining, but who is also extremely active and does not follow directions very well. I consider my husband and I to be fairly strict and follow through with discipline, let her know our expectations, rules, etc. but our strong-willed daughter often pushes the limits and is SO over-the-top energetic sometimes. I have visited with her pediatrician about hyperactivity concerns but he brushes them off, almost rudely, and tells me that activity levels in children and intelligence are often linked and to just let her be a 3-year-old, 4-year-old, etc. This all sounds great, but then reality sets in and she constantly tests our (and everyone else's) limits at home, daycare, grandparents' and friends. I am a teacher and am familiar with "normal" activity level and am frustrated when a doctor doesn't take my concerns to heart. We have switch pediatricians as a result, but even our new highly-recommended pediatrician downtown says that hyperactivity isn't usually diagnosed until school-ages are are reached. I am not at all interested in medication at this point and hope that it never comes to this; I would just like to know if there are others out there with these same concerns and behavior issues and any advice on getting through it! So frustrating and I hate that we spank so much for behaviors (misbehaviors), but that seems to be the most effective for my exuberant, wound-up (but much-loved) daughter. Advice from anyone or even just knowing that others are going through similar circumstances would be helpful. Over-Active 4 year old Behavior- Stores, Restaurants, Services, Products, Activities, Events