4yr old and koolaid

[Daisysqueaks]

My 4yr old son has been having some behavioral problems lately, like hitting me, screaming, growling and the like when I don't let him have his way or if he gets into trouble. I don't think he has add/adhd but he is a bit hyper-active. My question is if I took him off koolaid (red dyes) and reduced his sugar intake would this help. Husband and I discipline with love, but still he is sooo angry. More so w/ me than hubby. And mainly when hubby is at work.

 

[britishtankgirl]

hi
firstly nice to meet.
i have 3 kids ones 4 at the mo ones older and one younger.
but ive also worked with lots of kids esp ones with adhd.
yes diet is great, we all seem to know that sweets etc are bad for you can make you grouchy etc and hyper. just like tea and coffee can do to us adults. so id say yes allways reduce there intake of unhealthy foods esp if there are problems with behaviour.
but one thing that ive found also really works too is excersise. kids esp boys need to burn off a lot of energy and get frustrated if they cant. also lack of sleep or too much sleep can also lead to behaviour like that too.
i really hope this helps i really feel for you as ive experienced it so many times myself.

 

[Entertaining_Angels]

I really believe diet is very important. KoolAid is sugar water and nothing more. Behavior issues or not, there is nothing redeeming about koolaid. I really believe that.

But, also consider, my son is seven and still doesn't drink soda and has never had kool aid.

So, I'm on the no koolaid side of the fence

oh, edited to add, my brother had ADHD growing up and I have ADD. I can tell you from experience, diet is very important in affecting our attitudes overall.

 

[Daisysqueaks]

Thanks for your help everyone. I know I need to make sure his diet is better...old habits die hard LOL, I have been trying to introduce new fruits and veggies to him too. He's not a big veggie eater but he loves fresh fruit! Thanks and God Bless!

 

[Entertaining_Angels]

I hope improving the diet works and somehow I think it will. We've had to alter my son's diet in the past and, although it takes work, ti can be done. One thing that helps get you started is to keep a diet journal or have a checklist.

By the way, you get points from me just for trying. A lot of parents don't even think twice about this stuff.

 

[McDLT]

I think he may also just be missing his Daddy. Maybe some time alone with Dad might help too.

Let us know how things go.

 

[Samuel_Rigby]

I'm not sure if this is the reason or not, but I could not have anything with red die in it. If I did, I would get completely crazy with anger. Red coolaid was the worst. Something about the red die just completely changed me, in a very bad way.

 

[Linnis]

I won't give my nephew koolaid, or most fruit drinks because legally they can carry as little as 5% juice.

Normally he mostly gets water. I tell him, we're like 78% water and we need to drink lots of it to be healthy. When he does have juice it's from consintrate and I add extra water.

Soda is forbidden, which lands me in trouble because what do you think Grandma gives him? Root beer or worse Pepsi...not only enough surgar to make him buzzed for a week but caffiene!

With his Dad, he lives on Mac & cheese and frozen pizza. After a few days he comes to me feeling, tired, whiny, and it's like well when did you last have a glass of water? When did you last have a good meal?

Feed him a good dinner, with most of the food groups and a couple glasses of water and he feels much better, he listens and he doesn't whine! Sure some days we'll have pizza, or fish sticks but if we have one junk food meal, the other is good things like meat, potatos, other veggies.

I slice an apple and sprnkle a little bit of cinnimon and sugar on it. My nephew loves it.

Dip. Seriously, if you can't get a kid to eat veggies, give them salad dressing to dip it in and TA DA.

 

[Entertaining_Angels]

Good for you for not doing sodas. There is not one thing redeeming about them. They take up calories that could better be given to healthy foods and kids who drink sodas are more likely to have health concerns when they are older.

I had one mom ask me how I do it. Her daughter is four and always drinks sodas and my children have never had one. She said it was too late for her daughter but it wasn't. I told her to just start buying milks or waters when they go out to eat and eventually, after the withdrawals, her daughter would be fine.

I think parents just don't look at ingredients and what their children are consuming. I really believe western diet plays a big role in disease and we're just glibbly ensuring our children will suffer from those diseases.

Pretty harsh, I know but if we could provide healthy foundations for our children, we'd see heart disease, cancer, diabetes and other disease rates plummet as this generation matures.

 

[Princessperky]

IMO It certainly can't hurt to remove colored sugar water. (whichever brand you prefer)