This brings back memories. My daughter is almost 11 and is in 5th grade. She had a hard time in kindergarden. She always wanted to play in school and yes, she was very "hyper". We moved and she had to start a new school in the 1st grade. Teachers sent home notes, blah, blah, blah. I pretty much ignored them and just talked to my daughter about the importance of school, no horse playing, and got her in extra after school functions. Then second grade came and all hell broke loose. Her test scores were very low, getting in trouble in class, and was in the office almost everyday. I was called in for a meeting with the teacher, principal, social worker and a "special reading" teacher. They said "we feel she has ADHD". And told me to take her to her doctor and fill out all these forms. Her doctor agreed that it was ADHD, and gave her a low dose of ritalin. I did this because I believe it was the right thing to do. I had the doctor, teachers, social workers all telling me that this is what my daughter needed. My daughter took one pill every morning. The next thing I know, the teacher is sending home more notes saying that "she is hyper and not focusing after lunch, maybe she needs another dose then" crap. So we went back to the doctor and she put my daughter on a "LA" which is time released. Sure enough my daughter was throwing up and was a zombie. Plus it didn't help her grades. I was sick of it and took her off the pills at the end of the school year. By this time more studies came out about these types of meds. Heart attacks, stroke, turning to other street drugs in teen years, so on and so on. Then in 4th grade, right away, the teacher was saying she "had focus" problems. The state test showed she was way behind, a 2nd grader. They wanted to put her back in 3rd grade. I threw a fit. I said, NO MEDS, and your not placing her back in 3rd grade. I felt like I was being shoved in a corner, again. I got so sick of this school telling me this all the time!! Yes, my daughter was way behind in her studies, she couldn't grasp the information, but I also found out she was being bullied, which I know played a big part in this. Anyways, I did some research and found Sylvan, (a tutor school) Told them about her low selfesteem, her acting out in school and the push for meds. They tested her and found she was indeed at 2nd grade level and lower in reading and math. We enrolled her, 4 hrs week, and changed homework habits at home. It was the best thing I did. Each marking peroid her grades came up. And the end of the school year she got B's and C's on her report card, her self esteem rose up so much my daughter actually smiled all the time!! The Sylvan center re-test at the end and she was at the 4th grade level. She jumped two grades of knowledge in 9 months! She is having a hard time in 5th grade so we will be putting her back in Sylvan. She is in counceling. We are dealing with the bully problem as well. Seems she has outgrown the "hyperness" but does struggle with focusing. I have great tips for that here at home, fun things to do.

Im no doctor. Every parent has to make their own decisions. I chose to put my child on meds but then I decided it wasn't best for her. One thing that I did learn in this mess is every child is different, they all learn in their own ways. Plus other issues maybe causing problems too. At that time I got remarried, new home, step son, we moved, and she was being picked on in school too. I think it all played a part. Good luck to you. I know it's hard. Do your research, talk to your child.