Dear Dr. Meg,

My 9-year-old son has always had tons of energy and still moves around a lot. He gets good grades in school but he has a hard time concentrating on homework, which causes it to take much longer than it should. His teachers notice that he sometimes spaces out in class. He also has a hard time concentrating on other activities, such as playing basketball or practicing his saxophone. We had him tested for ADHD last year, but he did not fit the criteria. Any suggestions?

Sincerely,

Fidgety Fourth-Grader’s Mom

Dear Fidgety,

Your son may simply be highly energetic. If he isn’t disturbing classmates, getting into trouble at school, or picking fights, and he’s getting good grades, you’re in great shape. Many times, boys with ADHD do these things and these are certainly behaviors that you want to curb.

Here’s what I recommend for your energetic young boy. First, make sure that he gets as much time outside as possible. He needs to run, to get tired and to get sunshine. Talk with his teacher and ask her to not take away his recess time as punishment for acting up in class. He may never get in trouble, but…