whats the problem?

I don't know her home background, but it does sound alot like adhd. Both my children have been diagnosed with adhd. I didn't want to give them Ritilin in the beginning as I have heard so many ugly stories about it, but in the end a doctor told me that if I don't start them on Ritilin they will have difficulties coping when they are grown-up. And I must say they are different children on Ritilin. Their school work has improved. They are more manageable at home. There are also certain types of foods that you have to cut out! Like processed foods. Use butter rather than margarine, 100% fruit juice instead of cooldrink full of preservatives and colouring. NO sugar at all. If they really can't live without sugar, try brown sugar instead of white. Dark chocolate (the higher the percentage of cocoa the better) instead of sweets. Full grain/whole wheat rather than white flour. Good luck! It is not fun, but they do get better eventually....

my 8yr old has been this way and medicated off and on since age 2. Many Grey and missing hairs latter, i am still asking Q's. While meds aren't always the answerer, not using them isn't always right either. If the child is a classic case of ADHD (for a doc to determine) then a couple of things you can try. Kids with this disorder have moments of what the "pro's" call Hyper-zone. Find something that really interests the child and they literally take all that energy and ZONE into what their doing. My son would play a video game all day if i let him, he gets "in the Zone". Also he thrives on "everyone look at me" one -on- one attention. Sometimes hard to do when he can behave like a hemorrhoid at times. Just love him anyways, even at the worst moments.

is she in school..? this being summer and her not being in school or daycare/pre-school. she may just be bored.

try to not go right for the ADHD.

Have her on a schedule, even tho it is summer. sometimes children still need that. Same time up , same time breakfast, dressed, bathroom things, teeth hair, things like that.

OUT DOOR TIME !! Is very important. Tire her out a lot during the day. the park or the back/front yard.

Lunch time and snack times. A little tv, NAP times are very important.

Her wanting to be active may not be a bad thing. She just may want to be doing things and at 4 it is hard to figure it out for herself.

Your sister needs to get in contact with her doctor who will refer her daughter for assessment ..they will not just hand out medication without giving her the right assessment first, they will most likely watch her and talk to her mum about her behaviour, not everything is down to adhd ..could quite easily be her diet also needs looking in to

She could be one of the genuine cases of ADHD but it could also be lack of discipline. Your sister may just need to put her foot down, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to get her checked out. Just don't let them shove drugs down her throat until she has been examined thoroughly and diagnosed properly.

We don't need anymore kids on prescriptions because they are not being disciplined, so be your sister gets her daughter to a good doctor, and maybe a second opinion if she can afford it.... just to be sure.

i think that maybe its because she might just get everything that she asks for.and when she does not get it she screams and throw tantrums. she should see a shrink

Not normal. She needs to see a ped. shrink who will most likely medicate her to the point she can be manageable.