Regarding My Six Yearold Not Having the Stamina to Ride Bike , Sports and Others

Try horseback riding in the fall.I have the same problem with my autistic son.We just want to scream too.So I am feeling it too.The complaining.Wanting to go home.Wanting to stay home.It is too hot.I'M TIRED.We have heard it all.We just deal with it.I know it is hard,but you are not alone.Try the lessons and see if it does help.Gigi M

Is he over weight?I would limit his tv and watch what he's eating.If you allow him to have pop or anything like that, I'd stop giving it to him.

Try this: I know it may sound weird but bear with me. Take a thermometer outside with you on a hot day. Keep your boy out there or as long as he can handle. Then take his temperature.

For the longest time I couldn't get my daughter to go outside, and if I did she begged to go back in. Come to find out she wasn't sweating, therefore her temp would rise as if she had a high fever. There are a number of things that cause this problem. Her's was due to a medication she was on.

It is not normal for a child to feel like you are describing. Something is amiss. Try to get him to explain to you in detail how his body feels when exerting energy and being out in the sun. Also, has his heart been checked?

God Bless~

It could be nothing but a boy testing you, but I'm glad you are considering other possibilities.

I am reminded of an episode of Mystery Diagnosis (These are true stories, not made up TV shows) that I saw not long back. I'm not diagnosing, but you may ask your doctor about it. There was a young girl who would lose her energy upon exertion. The doctors told her she was chubby, lose 20 pounds. She did and it didn't help. The teacher took the class on a walk, and she was fine until she had to walk uphill. She had to stop, breathe, and it took a lot of effort to go on. She passed out when she got back to the school. The principal was an EMT and said her heart was racing. When they went to the Statue of Liberty, she couldn't make it up the steps. She finally went to a doctor who couldn't figure out what it was, but sent her immediately to a specialist who said she had Pulmonary Hypertension. So, if that sounds like your son, I'd ask the doctor about it.

I'm not a nut job that tries to diagnose my kids off tv shows, but they do sometimes give me things to think about. (Not all doctors know about all illnesses.) I hope it helps your son.

B.

You may want to ask your doctor if he thinks it would be helpful to get his Thyroid checked. As an adult I went through a period of feeling very lethargic (sorry I can't spell). I would drive home from work and it took every ounce of energy I had to move the steering wheel to make a turn. I finally went to the doctor and they tested my Thyroid. It turned out that I have an under active Thyroid (Hypo-thyroidism). I am not sure if this is something that they check in children but you may want to ask. I now take Synthroid every day and it has really helped.

Good Luck.

I can imagine that is very frustrating. Again I would continue to seek help from his Dr. It could be a very wide range of medical reasons, from sensitivity to light, to a thyroid problem. It is in childrens nature to want to run and play and go out side, so there has to be a reason not just his personality. Maybe asking him what activity he would like to do outside may help. If he likes playing ball do that. If it is very sunny find some shade to practice playing ball. Multey vitamins may help. Just don't give up. I am sure if you keep trying you will figure this one out. Stay positive. Moms need all the help they can get.

I agree with the ones who think it may be something physical. I wouldn't just assume he is lazy because he likes to play games inside. It really sounds like something else is going on. The only suggestion I have is to make sure he drinks lots of WATER when he is outside. Dehydration can also make you feel the way he does. Good luck!

Hey L.~
Sounds like you have mixed feelings on your sons issues. It sounded like you wanted to really believe that he might not be able to physically be outside without getting overheated and then on the other side, it sounds like you don't know whats going on, but he is ruining it for the others in your family. Poor kid. My step-son refuses to be outside unless an adult is with him...my daughter would be outside 24-7 if I let her. I personally can't take the heat. I can't stand to be in the direct sunlight. I am the downer in my family for that reason, but they have learned to deal with my "heat" issues. We wait until the late afternoon when the sun isn't as bright, when it starts to go down. It is a bit cooler at that point. I am sorry that your son is going through this, because its really not fun that everyone else can go out and play, but for him, the sun makes it hard for him to enjoy it. Instead of letting him learn to get lazy, if he doesn't/can't go out with the others, then at that point, when everyone is outside, he should be doing something indoors to get him his exercise as well. Cleaning the bathroom, sweeping, mopping. Get creative with it. Good Luck!!!

I would be concerned too as that is a very active age. It's great you thought of having him checked for diabetes. There are also a few different metabolic disorders that effect muscle strength and stamina, I was reading about them on the MDA website recently. Having him screened for these things sounds like a good idea- also if you can, try to locate any emotional roots to the problem.

Is being tired something that lets him differentiate himself from the rest of an active and athletic family, or that takes him out of what would otherwise be competition with an older sibling? It's possible, even if he does have a physical source of the tiredness, that he is using it as a pyschological survival tool.

Hope you find out what is causing the problem soon!!!

I would do two things. First, take him in for a full physical. Even if the doctor says that there's nothing wrong (and I hope he's right) it's good to be sure. Include a full battery of blood tests.

Second, try to pinpoint the times and places where he seems most tired. Is it usually outside? Has this started recently? He could be allergic to any number of things and I know from experience that an allergy can make someone tired and even irritable.

If this keeps up, look for a different doctor. Don't give up until you find someone who gives you an answer.

I know you think it's weird that the doctors said "maybe he isn't going to be that kind of kid," but what's so wrong with that? Not everyone likes athletics. Not even all boys. The heat is probably the problem, like everyone says. And I don't think there's a treatment for that. People are different, and that's okay. Trying to make your child be something he's not and then calling him a "Debbie Downer" doesn't help anyone. Maybe he will be super smart, or a musician, or, like you said, be into indoor sports.

Hi L.,

I could have wrote your post as your son sounds like mine. When he was younger I would often wonder why he looked so tired within a few hours of waking, complained his legs were hurting him(taking a stroll or in a grocery store), had trouble holding up his body(he would lean on everything), had some motor delays(riding his bike and pumping on a swing were challenging so he never enjoyed doing those), and gives up when things get challenging, to name a few.

Please go back to your doctor and request a referral to an Occupational Therapist (OT). Do not accept no for an answer. If you doctor doesn't provide the referral find a new one! It sounds as if you are describing Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). It is real and your son really isn't trying to be the "Debbie Downer". Once I realized this with my son, I was able to view things much differently and help him at times when his energy was "running low". Our diagnosis helped me to be a better parent.

http://www.incrediblehorizons.com/sensory-integration.htm

Feel free to PM me if you'd have questions. I commend you for keeping up on this with your son. You gut is telling you that something isn't right. Stay on top of it and get the referral to the OT. I am confident you will get answers.

Peace,
J.

I am a bad one to ask. My youngest son was like that and to this day he is the laziest child I have ever seen. He can't do anyhthing unless he wants to do it. His room looks like a pigs sty and I have quit cleaning after him. I keep his door closed because for all I know rats may be up there... it is that bad. I can't get him up to do anything.
The bad part about it that his dad's side of the family were really lazy people too. (Wish I had known alot before I married his dad.. but thank God i am away from that now).
He won't try in school and he won't try anything. The only thing he seems to have energy in doing is what he wants to do.
I hope that you don't go through what I have.
Try taking water and letting him drink often when exercising.

You might locate a naturopathic physician (make sure it's a graduate from a real naturopathic medical school - an N.D.). MDs only learn medications and surgery in med school; Naturopaths have many more tricks up their sleeves, and don't just treat symptoms - they find the underlying cause and work to cure it, treating the whole body. What is going on with your son does not sound normal. There are passive kids, but this is extreme, and sounds related to sun exposure. http://www.ncanp.com/ Good luck!

ok just and idea but see about checking his Tyroid levels that would make him have no energy,and Also make his tolerence to heat somewhat different then normal!

I have a chid who has Sensory Integration. You should have an OT look at him. My daughter is very slow to rouse some mornings and throughout the day. You can be "hypo" or"hyper" sensitive. " The out of sync child" is very good book. My daughter is much better with the OT therapies. We are only 3 months into it.

Hi L.,
I am a holistic health practitioner in Holly Springs. I use natural energy healing methods such as Reiki and Touch for Health to help people improve their health and well being. I would love to help you with your son. I have several collegues who have had wonderful results balancing people to manage better in the heat. From your posting, it sounds like your son might benefit from this kind of a balance. I would he happy to speak with you about it. I am also teaching a Kinesiology for Kids class next month that might be helpful. My website is www.butterflyholistics.com, you can find information on what I do there, as well as a contact email for me. Good Luck, and I hope to hear from you!

Other than getting a complete physical from the doctor, I would try to find out which relative or friend or other adult he's around. He may have heard these complaints about being too hot,etc. from someone else who complains about this & he could be mimicking this behavior.
Otherwise I would try to build his stamina by rewarding every 30 minutes of physical activity with 10 minutes if Nintendo.

PLEASE TALK TO YOUR SONS DOCTOR!!! I was like that when i was young. and now that im older i have learned that i am VERY sensitive to heat. i get extremely sick if overheated and its very scary. im not sure if they can do anything for him but its worth finding out!

Does he have friends his age who love to play outside? Positive influence from other children could help. Also, does he get enough sleep and have a healthy diet? Those things can really affect energy level.

Otherwise I would say it's just a matter of building habits into your lifestyle. You could set a minimum amount of time that he has to play outside (if the weather is nice), and just let him know that whining is not acceptable. Also try doing other activities outside, like painting. Maybe if he enjoys that he'll get used to being outside more and eventually begin to enjoy more physical activities.

I don't want this to sound harsh, but does he not have the stamina or does he just not want to do it? You mentioned the x-box and nintendo, well I think children spend so much time doing these that they are addicted. This adds to the obesity of children and makes them think they cannot do anything else. Give him scheduled times to play with these toys and make him go outside and hit balls, boat, ride bike, or swim. I hate to imply it but it sounds like your son is lazy because of the games. You said the DR. said he was fine. He also knows that whining and looking miserable will dampen your day and you will give in. Be strong! It will be for his best well-being in the future.

Is it possible he gets mildly dehydrated? My kids get VERY red in the face when out in the hot and/or sun for any length of time if they don't have their water cups.

Also, he may have food sensitivities that make him lethargic. Some of the main culprits are artificial coloring, artificial flavoring, and other "fake" foods that affect some kids worse than others. Some kids get hyper when they consume artificial dyes; maybe yours gets lethargic? Something to think about.

I see that you're going to take him to a homeopathic doctor -- that's probably something s/he'll consider or try to rule out; but if s/he doesn't bring it up, you might.

Does he have any issues with his stomach (pain, abd distension, diarrhea)?? My son was diagnosed with celiac disease (intestinal disorder) and before he was diagnosed we had alot of behavioral issues. He had NO energy therefore he didn't like to be outside and play, he liked low energy things like legos, art, puzzles, etc. We thought it was bc he was so shy but later realized he felt terrible and didn't want to do anything! After being diagnosed and on the proper diet, he was was a completely different child. Now he loves high energy things. This may not be your child but please talk to your doctor about any physical issues that could be causing it and don't just brush it off as a phase, etc. Celiac diease can initially be detected through a blood test then more invasive follow up. Good luck and God Bless!
wb