Parenting The ADD Child: Change Your Focus To Improve Your Child's Behavior.

A highly effective strategy that I've used with my ADHD son is to emphasize the positive and
downplay the negative as much as possible.

Because they are so boisterous, impulsive and more generally more difficult to manage than others, these kids hear ‘no’ many times a day. In fact if you're not careful most of your interaction with your ADD child could be negative in nature. This is totally destructive to his developing self-concept.

Perhaps the biggest challenge for you, as a parent, is finding out what the child is doing right and focusing on those aspects instead of focusing on all the things he does wrong.

What we focus on expands. So if you focus on and praise your child for good behavior, the more likely he is to repeat it.

Behavior that is ignored decreases. So it makes sense to ignore behavior that you don't want ....if it's not harmful or dangerous.

At the moment you may be doing the exact opposite. Try ignoring minor things that your child does that irritate you and praise him when he behaves in ways that you approve of , and watch his behavior and self-worth improve.

Parenting The ADD Child: Getting your Child To Listen To You.

When you need to give your child any verbal instructions, the first rule of thumb is to keep the rules short and too the point. An ADHD child’s attention will drift if instructions for
anything are too long and rambling.

It also helps to maintain eye-contact with the child as you speak. A hand on his shoulder or touching his hand as you give the instructions also help the child to stay focused.

You could also ask your child to repeat the instruction back to you before he carries it out. For example, ask him "Jimmy, what do I want you to do?"

These 3 simple suggestions make it easier for the child to pay attention to your instructions and carry them out.

How can behavior modification help my child with attention deficit disorder.

What steps can you take in behavior modification to
minimize the symptoms of ADHD? The answer is – SO MUCH!
The basic principles of treatment – for adults and children
both – are:

• Structure
  

• lifestyle changes
  

• finding and developing talent.
  

There is a lot of focus on the medication, but you build a life on
identifying your talent and pursuing it.

Start by helping children find and develop their talents.
That is very important and is often overlooked. What happens
is people look for what’s wrong and how to re-mediate the
problems.

And so, the child is given the message that he’s a
walking defect. What builds a sense of confidence and joy in
life is helping a child find something that he or she is good at
What many people who suffer from ADHD lack is structure.

Planning out the steps it takes to accomplish daily tasks – for
instance, getting ready for school or completing homework –
lets everyone know what expectations are.

With many kids, you can take each day as it comes and
there may not be a huge amount of structure. But that’s really
hard for these kids. You can get in a tug-of-war over that and
have a lot of frustration.

When it comes to instruction, keep it brief and to the
point. An ADHD child’s attention will drift if instructions for
anything are too long and rambling. For both parents and
teachers, this means it’s best to break down tasks into little
pieces.

What are your feelings about Your Child's ADD Diagnosis?

Once your child is diagnosed, not only do you have to cope with your child's feelings about this but yours as well.

What do parents feel once their child has been diagnosed with ADD /ADHD?


Surprisingly, the most prevalent feelings parents had after ADHD diagnosis was – RELIEF!
Do you find that hard to believe? That’s understandable, but
it’s true. Why?

The sense of relief came from knowing that there was a medical reason for
their child’s behavior and/academic failure, and that it wasn't their fault.

It wasn't poor parenting skills, they were not bad parents (even though some may have suggested that). Mothers are especially prone to these feelings of maternal guilt.

Many parents were also relieved that they were not alone. For some, it even gave them insight as to how they behaved when they were a child. Perhaps one (or both) of these parents have ADD /ADHD and didn't know it... up till now.


Of course, along with that relief came another feeling –helplessness.

Many parents report that they felt completely alone and deprived of information or support for this new and challenging aspect of their lives. Forums and support groups abound on the internet. It's wonderful to have a chance to communicate with other parents who are facing the same challenges as you.
My 2 favorite forums are www.addforums.com
and the Bella Online ADD Forum

Most parents when told their child was suffering
with ADD/ADHD are sent home with a prescription without any
clues as to what their rights were, where to find help and
support and what to expect.

Many parents have questions and they want - and deserve- answers.
Questions such as

• Will my child ever grow out of it?
• 
  
• What are the treatment options?
  
• 
  
• How do I know what's best for my child?

And others. Reading this blog is a great way to start. There are many other informative resources listed in the links section of this blog, so check them out.

It's vital that you educate yourself, so that you make the best decision for your child.

What The Real Cause of ADD / ADHD?

It is only natural that once you are told that your child
has ADHD you will want to know what the cause of it is.

Unfortunately, there are no simple answers.

Recent research indicates that ADHD could be caused by a
developmental failure in the brain circuitry that underlies
inhibition and self-control.

This loss of self-control in turn reduces the ability to pay attention, and the ability to defer immediate rewards for later, greater gain.


Studies conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health in the United States has found that the right pre-frontal cortex of the brain, two basal ganglia and the vermis region of the cerebellum are significantly smaller in those with ADD.

These are the very areas of the brain areas that are the ones that regulate attention.

Genetics is also a significant factor in the development of ADHD. If you or your spouse has ADD, then the chances of your child having it increases dramatically.

Other factors that may predispose a child to ADD are:

• premature birth,
  
• maternal alcohol and tobacco use,
• exposure to high levels of lead in early childhood
  
• and brain injuries, especially those that involve the prefrontal cortex.

But even when put together, these factors can account for only between 20-30 % of ADHD cases among boys; among girls, they account for an even smaller percentage.

At one point, people believed that a poor home environment wasthe cause of ADHD. However, the latest research findings increasingly point to biological causes for the
disorder. (Although a poor environment can make ADD / ADHD symptoms more apparent)

Common sense tells us that not all children from unstable or dysfunctional homes have ADHD. And not all children with ADHD come from dysfunctional families!

Parents, especially moms, can heave a sigh of relief that this is something that is not their fault.

Another pet theory was that refined sugar and food additives make children hyperactive and inattentive. As a result, parents were encouraged to stop serving children foods
containing artificial flavorings, preservatives, and sugars.

However, data from a later study lead scientists to conclude that the restricted diet only seemed to help a small percentage of children with ADHD, mostly either young children or
children with food allergies. However I think that with todays high sugar, refined diets, diet always remains a viable option for treatment. If it doesn't work, then you can always try something else. And besides, a more nutritious diet can only benefit your child.
The C3 Program is a wonderful start. Simple, easy to understand and easy to implement as well, it has made a positive difference in the lives of many ADD kids.


In addition, ADHD hasn't been scientifically proven to be caused by too much TV, food allergies or poor schools.


But there are many ADD experts who feel that these are strong contributing factors. Whist they may not cause ADD, too much TV, food allergies and poor teaching methods can make an existing condition of Attention Deficit Disorder WORSE.

Regardless of the cause of ADD / ADHD you still have to do something to address the condition.
To receive an ongoing tips, coping strategies and the latest breakthrough treatment options please sign up for my mailing list by completing the optin form above.

The social implications that accompany attention deficit disorder are pretty scary.

Consider the following:
• 21 percent of teens with ADHD skip school repeatedly.
• 35 percent eventually drop out of school.
• ADD/ADHD children are much more likely to experiment with drugs and alcohol.
• ADD/ADHD children are more likely to get into accidents.
• When ADD/ADHD kids don’t do well in school, their self-esteem drops and they are less likely to succeed as adults.

Your child doesn't have to be part of these scary ADD statistics.
You can do something about it. Now is the time to act.
The Calm Kids Program Can Help.

Attitutor Blog: An Attention Deficit Disorder Story

Attitutor Blog: An Attention Deficit Disorder Story

If your ADD / ADHD child is having trouble at school, take a moment to read this post by Thom Hartman. It just might change your perspective on where the problem really is.

Teaching A Child With Attention Deficit Disorder

I came across a free government publication on Teaching A Child With Attention Deficit Disorder
Right-click and select 'save as' to download the report.

The report is aimed mainly at teacher's, but parents can pick up a few useful tips as well. Or you could always print out a copy and give one to your ADD Child's teacher.

Quick and Healthy Breakfasts For Your ADD Kids...On Squidoo

I've created a Squidoo Lens on Quick & Healthy Breakfasts for your ADD Child.
Click on the blue link above to read tips, techniques and secrets to making a delicious and healthy breakfast for your ADD Child.

4 Ways to Help Your Child With ADD

No matter what treatment option you choose, here are some tips that will benefit ALL kids with ADD:

1. A regular daily routine- bath time, mealtimes, bedtimes, homework time and so on happening at the same time each day. This repetition and familiarity helps a child remember what needs to be done when.

2."A Place for everything and everything in it's place" is a good motto for someone with ADD. Help your child get organized and stay organized.

3. Having a homework diary helps the child with ADD to remember what homework needs to be done as well as what assignments and other school events he may need to prepare for.

4. In the classroom, a teacher who invites interaction with the ADD pupil will find that he understands and retains the material far better than if she had just delivered a lecture.

And most of all, don't loose hope. Educate yourself about ADD and learn all you can about managing it as well as possible, then teach these coping skills to your child, and he is sure to thrive.

Is ADD /ADHD a learning disability?

If your child has been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD you may be wondering if that means that he is learning disabled as well?

Well, not exactly.

When we talk of the term 'learning disability' then what we generally mean is that it is a perceptual disability - such as autism or visual processing disorder.

Attention Deficit Disorder (With or without hyperactivity) shouldn't be treated as a learning disability.

Anyone who has ADD is perfectly capable of understanding and using the information presented to them.

ADD doesn't really obstruct the learning process although it can sure feel like it at times.

It is often mistakenly lumped together with other learning disabilities into 1 category. A person who is suffering from ADD can take in the information he sees and then he can process it and even store it in his memory just like any other person.

Then what's the problem, you may ask. The problem with a person with ADD is attracting and holding his attention for long enough so that he can absorb the information to begin with.This leads to all kinds of problems, at school, at home and for adult ADD sufferers, in the workplace as well.

Once he is able to focus and concentrate, his performance in school, at home and in the workplaically improve.

But sometimes ADD or ADHD can co-exist or be mistaken for a learning disability or some other processing disorder. Dyslexia, auditory, vision and speech problems could all be mistaken for ADD, or a child might have ADD and one of these problems as well. A thorough check-up by a pediatrician will help immensely.These problems must first be rules out before treatment for ADD is sought.

Once you are sure that your child is indeed suffering from ADD, then you need to consider all the various treatment options, such as medication, supplementation, brainwave entrainment, behavior modification or a complete holistic treatment option that combines many of the methods above.

But no matter what treatment option you choose, here are some tips that will benefit ALL kids with ADD:

1. A regular daily routine- bath time, mealtimes, bedtimes, homework time and so on happening at the same time each day. This repetition and familiarity helps a child remember what needs to be done when.

2."A Place for everything and everything in it's place" is a good motto for someone with ADD. Help your child get organized and stay organized.

3. Having a homework diary helps the child with ADD to remember what homework needs to be done as well as what assignments and other school events he may need to prepare for.

4. In the classroom, a teacher who invites interaction with the ADD pupil will find that he understands and retains the material far better than if she had just delivered a lecture.

And most of all, don't loose hope. Educate yourself about ADD and learn all you can about managing it as well as possible, then teach these coping skills to your child, and he is sure to thrive.

Is Attention Deficit Disorder A Learning Disability?

If your child has been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD you may be wondering if that means that he is learning disabled as well?

Well, not exactly. When we talk of the term 'learning disability' then what we generally mean is that it is a perceptual disability -like autism or visual processing disorder.

Attention Deficit Disorder (With or without hyperactivity) shouldn't be treated as a learning disability, because it isn't.

A child with Attention Deficit Disorder is perfectly capable of understanding and using the information presented to him.

Attention Deficit Disorder doesn't really obstruct the learning process although it can sure feel like it at times, both for you and your child.

Attention Deficit Disorder is often mistakenly lumped together with other learning disabilities into one category. A person who is suffering from ADD can absorb the information he sees, process it and even store it in his memory - just like any other person.

"Then what's the problem"?, you may ask.

The problem with a person with ADD is attracting and holding his attention for long enough so that he can absorb the information to begin with.

This leads to all kinds of problems, at school, at home and for adult ADD sufferers, in the workplace as well.

Once he is able to focus and concentrate, his performance in school, at home and in the workplace dramatically improve.

But sometimes ADD or ADHD can co-exist or be mistaken for a learning disability or some other processing disorder. Dyslexia, auditory, vision and speech problems could all be mistaken for ADD, or a child might have ADD might co-exist with one of these problems.

A thorough check-up by a pediatrician will help immensely.These problems must first be rules out before treatment for ADD is sought.

Once you are sure that your child is indeed suffering from ADD, then you need to consider all the various treatment options, such as medication, supplementation, brainwave entrainment, behavior modification or a complete holistic treatment option that combines many of the methods above.