There's some great advice on this thread!

I want to add something I read from a syndicated family psychologist - he recommends children's bedtimes be when *parents* are ready to stop parenting. He has a completely different attitude about interacting with your child - his mother booted him out the door and told him a kid's life is entertaining themselves (something like that) - and felt no concern about his self-esteem!

My older son has a good friend who's always been this energetic, and last summer he worked helping with tree thinning. His boss said he did the work of 2 grown men consistently. Now how adaptive is that???