My son was diagnosed with adhd when he was 2, yea it was very early even the docs said that he has a server case of it, now he is 15 and will be 16 in November. Anyway, there was a lot going on in his life, well in our family life at the time, that caused it. I used to say that it happened because I had so much trouble when he was being delievered as well as almost loosing my life having him. Anyway, I found that when he had stricter order and a proper diet and working with him in different areas he started getting better. The docs had him on meds and kept increasing them until they completely changed his meds. It made him so zoned out that when I would look in his eyes it was like no one was there at all, it was very scarey. I tried to wing him off of the meds but it got worse again so I started him back on a lower dose (although his doctor didn't like it) and while he was on his med and a different environment he started to get better. However, by the time he turned 13 they diagnosed him with bipolar as well. The doctors say that this what he had since he was little but was unable to properly diagnosed him with it due to his age. Now he hates to take his meds and tryes to get out of it when he can. I tought him how to channel his aggeitiation and stuff in a positive way. Now his docs have allowed him to not take his meds except for twice a day and it seems as though it helps him. The sad thing is that while I am trying to help him, I am having to deal with the samething myself and mine isn't as leveled out as his is. We been helping each other.
Looking at the various issues that was surrounding him (actually us) and changing ALLOT of things it helped.

My son was diagnosed with it -- and when he was 3 I went to the library and found / dug up as many books on the topic as I could ... most said what this person has said.

Things I had to avoid with him - ravioli, chef boyardee, kool aide, anything with red dye,  anything high in sugar or cafeen.

Well later in life after much of my college was done .. I found a Dr. Who does train in this field -- and I practice what she preaches daily .. 0 of the kids in my class are on meds and the one that was is no longer- check into Dr. Becky Bailey - http://www.beckybailey.com/
read about the right brain / left brain and how you get them fired together and the child OR ADULT can calm down these simple exercises can help a child focus!

the first thing to do when your kids diagnosed as ADHD is seek help to the professional... i suggest find a child psychiatrist
usually they will prescribe medicines to balance some hormonal regulator in the brain
it's better to treat ADHD as soon as it's diagnosed

As an ex foster parent, the first thing we did with new kids - esp. those diagnosed as hyper active was severely restrict their diet, do this for a month, note thier behaviour - video it if it really improves.
Introduce foods 1 at a time and watch carefully, if their behaviour reverts - video it and show the kids what happens when they eat it!
I was interested in the idea of martial arts - I teach it and all my foster kids came and they all thrived.

I highly recommend the "Nurtured Child Approach" for children with ADD/ADHD. If you haven't heard about it before, it makes a lot of sense while still letting the kid to be a kid. I have a 10 year old boy (my wife's son, not my blood, but might as well be!) and he has what several doctors have described as "Thee most severe case of ADHD they have seen". We have been told that he will not lead a normal life withOUT the use of medicine and has been medicated for the past 6 years. We tried the Nurtured Child Approach to ADHD children with him and all summer (5 months now with NO MEDICATION) and he has been able to be a little boy unlike his previous 6 years being on his zombie inhibiting medications. Things are going GREAT right now and we are working everyday to make him into the young man he is discovering as to be himself. I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone with children of ADD/ADHD. I also have had several people comment oh how they would consider my boy to be an indigo child. I believe it too, but he still has a lot to learn about common sense before I could let him explore that realm of light. I hope this could help someone else out there who might have been in my shoes a few years ago.

-tom-