Sometimes medication is key. I work with a child whom I will call Dale. Dale has zero impulse control. He's a very lovey kid, so that means a lot of hugging, some extremely silly behaviors, and very little focus in school. It's really easy to like this boy, because he is so sweet. It's also easy to get frustrated with him when he does things like hug every kid in the hallway, smooch kids on the cheek who have no desire to be kissed, copy Jack's stimming behaviors, and grab everything that is not glued down. One day he ate a glue stick. I worked with preschoolers for nine years, and never saw anyone eat a glue stick.
About a month ago, his parents tried him on a new medication. I am not privy to which one, but the results have been simply amazing as far as school goes. He is still the same lovey, funny, smart kid, but he all of a sudden has the capacity to think before he does something. He can stop himself before doing inappropriate things. He can eat lunch with his friends, act appropriately, and not land himself in a lunch detention the next day. For this particular kid, medication was essential.
