Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy Psychomotor OE - HELP

I hope I'm in the right group. I have a four-year-old gifted son that also has a psychomotor OE. I cannot begin to describe the energy level of this child. He is currently in behavioral therapy to learn ways to cope with this energy and his emotions, as he gets increasingly worse when emotionally pent up.

He's extremely sensitive to change in his environment, and any deviation can cause issues.

My problem is that his preschool is struggling with ways to manage him. He does not like to relinquish control and seems to pull away from authority. He already tells them he doesn't have to do something because he already knows how. On bad days, he's atrocious. During naps he's extremely disruptive and bangs things regardless of consequence. When they cannot go outside for a few days (cold), he gets worse because he's not able to expend his energy. They have said that he moves too fast to keep up with him. As soon as they think they've figured out how to manage him and what works, he changes the rules.

Example: We are trying Love & Logic with him. I've been giving him choices. It didn't take him long to figure it all out, and he has started giving me choices. When I do give him choices he doesn't like, he says, "no, here are the choices I want you to give me."

Let me get to the point. I've read the stock strategies on how to deal with psychomotor OE. What I can't find are real-life suggestions. What works? Particularly in a preschool setting where the teachers cannot solely focus on him. Any experiences out there?

Thanks in advance.

Transforming the Difficult Child - The Nurtured Heart Approach. Help the school give him positive feedback on good behavior so he gets attention for following the rules instead of breaking them. Is he externally motivated by screen time or some other activity - turn that thing he values into a reward. For instance, all screen time in our house is earned with points - points are for listenting the first time, keeping hands to yourself, etc.

Does he need a nap? Also, (and I don't know where you are and maybe it is really too cold to go outside) but maybe they should re-evaluate when it's too cold to go outside. Would they consider and/or would they be able to provide space for him to get himself moving without going outside?

Good luck - I have an energetic one too.