5 Year old boy just recently won't go to bed (ADHD and Behavioural Problems)?

[Mecellic]

I'll try to make this short, my son is ADHD and also has alot of Behavioural problems but seemed to be alright. He was on a good schedule when it came to bedtime. In his room at 7pm and turn his tv off at 8pm so he had an hour to wind down and just watch tv. This was working great, he went to a movie with his grandpa and is now saying he hears things in the house, noises and such. After I tuck him into bed he will get up right behind me stomping outta the room saying he isint going to bed, screams and shouts, stating loudly that if I dont come back in his room he'll wake up his little sister (9 months). For the last 4 nights he has been like this, no matter how much talking I or his step dad does it's never enough, he keeps saying he needs us, but then doesnt know what for. He has anger problems and when he is playing with his toys he has punched his sister in the forehead because she has tried to play with him. Just looking for some advice for the next few nights, Not sure what to do
He has a doc appointment on Wednesday, but he is up late and up early, he is not getting enough sleep for a 5 year old...something either spooked him and he is terrified to fall asleep or I dunno....need some advise. thanks
It has been so long since I have watched trailers on tv advertising movies, at home here we ALWAYS have treehouse tv on which doesnt have commercials or advertise movies - I had no idea how scary this one would be for a 5 year old, his grandpa told me he was gonna take him to the show to see a movie, I thought it was a great idea, considering it was march break and I had to work, I asked what the movie was but again I didnt check up on it, I figured if his grandpa said it would be fine then I believed him...I have later checked the trailer online - Spiderwick Chronicles....the first night he was scared about goblins coming outta the floor and his step dad turning into a monster. He has watched scary movies at the house with us before and has had no trouble sleeping, maybe the theatre amplified this some and is indeed more scary to see at the show. He is on meds, but still trying to figure out his dosage. I feel bad for him, but is also frustrating.

[Dawacky L]

ask him if he's scared of anything at night is he having nightmares? or something happened to him in bed, spiders something that could be frightening or stopping him. seems like he's scared to me. is he scared of the dark?

something that worked brilliantly with my cousin was getting a dream catcher, hang it in his bedroom and say that it will capture all the horrible noises and scary stuff so your room is safe. he was fine after that.

Buy a relaxation CD with ocean sounds etc to drown out any noises he might hear and distract him from imagining scary things, and hopefully send him to sleep.

try getting him a dull swirly lamp you can put on at night or if he hasnt got one already go out with him and get him to pick a big cuddly soft toy he can take to bed with him. this might encourage him, or some new cool sheets (of his favourite character or something), also tv's in rooms for a child is not very good really,

i dont recommend watching tv before bed unless its in the main living room, if he sees something scary he will relate it to his room and will lose sleep that night.

talk to him about it.

do you have a pet? a pet on his bed or in his room could help him feel like someone is there to watch over him.

[curious]

What movie did he go see? Have him watch something really happy & friendly before he goes to bed. Make a chart, each night he stays in bed, he puts a sticker on it, when he gets 7, he gets a prize. Each time he suceeds, add more days before he gets his next prize.

[lovely]

The absolute best advise I can give you is...go out and purchase Jim Fay's CD on parenting. You can also look it up on line.

I know it is so hard and frustrating dealing with ADHD but I think with these CD's you will find it much easier...Jim Fay is so funny also my husband and I just laughed and laughed...

If I were you....stop talking or trying to reason with him, set the rules and consequences of those rules and then follow through. Have a plan for tonight that you and your husband agree on. Good Luck!

[Scarlett360]

What kind of movie did he see???
Definitely fear issue.
Is he on meds for ADHD? If so, this can magnify anxiety. Talking to your doctor is a must. In the mean time, try to skip the TV....actually makes it harder for children to get to sleep. Instead, reading and cuddle time help. You may have to sit in there while he goes to sleep.....just until you talk to the doc & get things sorted out.

I'd also ask him to try describing what spooked him at the movies....during the day....when things are calm and secure for your son. If you know what scared him, perhaps you can reassure him.
Regardless of what children tell you, they have a difficult time differentiating between fantasy and reality....especially in movies and tv where the special effects can be quite convincing.

[Patricia G]

I am not in any way saying this judge - i am a mother of difficult boys so i understand your stress believe me - but are you sure he has ADHD? he is only 5 and i say this because my son was catergorized like this by his preschool etc. we refused to medicate but instead changed his diet, chalked alot of his behavior as normal (the schools tend to be much more intolerant these days). i say this because or son wouldnt sleep for a while either and we were so frustrated that we tried meds and it made it so much worse, . turned out it was anxiety over school and being overscrutinzed by everyone. Really try to relax and be there for him - as exhausting as it is. Sleep with him, hold his hand, rub his back, let him sleep with a dim light, and i also recommend a Relaxation CD to play at bedtime - they really work!

He is so young and is dealing with alot right now - it is stressful and kids handle things the only way they know how - they often act out. Once we became our son's advocate, believed in him and really listened to what he was trying to tell us, we realized the poor kid was just plain scared. I know i wrote alot and you can't compare our kids because they are different people, but if you could see the difference in my son in just 2 years (you described him in your post) - he is almost 7 - you'll see a light at the end of your tunnel!!!!