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.

Using Christmas Season to Teach Your Child Values & Life-Skills - Part 2

Using Christmas Season to Teach Your Child Values & Life-Skills - Part 2

Building Confidence and a positive self-image.

A.D.D. kids are often known best amongst extended family for their unruly and disruptive behavior.

Although it's easier to label and pigeon-hole a child like this it's both unfair and destructive.

All children have talents and accomplishments of which to be proud of, and the A.D.D/A.D.H.D child is no exception.

Your responsibility as a parent to make sure that he gets the opportunity to share these talents and accomplishments with grandparents,uncles, cousins and friends.

Things like showing/displaying art projects, showing everyone the Scout Merit Badge that he earned or reciting a poem that he learned are just a few of the ways to do so.

Coach your child in the art of displaying his accomplishments without coming across as a show-off.

In addition, be sure to tell positive stories about your child and encourage him to chime in as well. This helps others to see him in a more positive light as well.

Teaching Sharing, giving and altruism.

Children, especially those with special needs
(like A.D.D.)are used to being on the receiving end. They often receive special accommodations at school, special attention and extra help at home etc.

Christmas is the perfect time to reverse this and to give the child the experience of giving.

Volunteer work provides the perfect opportunity to help those that are less fortunate. Through the experience of doing this the child realizes that there are others with problems far more serious than his own.

In addition it also gives the child the confidence that he can make a difference in the lives of those around him.

Using Christmas Season to tach your child Important Values & Life-skills - Part 1

Helping your A.D.D Child enjoy the holiday season.... and learn valuable social skills at the same time.

The holiday season presents a unique set of challenges for all family members, but more so for those who suffer from A.D.D. or A.D.H.D. The absence of familiar routines throws the child off balance. Add guests, shopping, the hustle and bustle of the season, parents who are stressed out and kids may suddenly become disruptive and uncooperative.

But if approached in a careful and well-planned manner this season can be a wonderful time of bonding for parent and child, as well as a time to pass on the values and belies that you hold dear. And you can help your child to develop those all important social skills.

Teaching Empathy

Impulsive, hyperactive kids are often self-absorbed and self-focused. Use this season to help your child to shift the focus from himself to others.

One family found a fun way to get their 8 year old son,Mark, actively involved in the Christmas planning and shift his focus at the same time.Mark acted as a gift consultant to his mother. His job was to interview each family member about their hobbies etc. and then using that knowledge help his mother pick out appropriate gifts. This kept him involved, gave him a sense of pride and accomplishment -both of which are vital for building a healthy self-esteem. And he was thrilled when family members loved the gifts he helped to choose.

Teaching Teamwork and Co-operation.

A.D.D./A.D.H.D. kids tend to be very disorganized bunch and are notoriously poor planners as well.Getting your child involved in planning a party is a terrific way to build her self-confidence and improve her planning skills. Help the child make a list of the things you need to purchase and how the evening will proceed, for example snacks and drinks followed by dinner and then everyone gathers around the piano to sing Christmas Carols. Work together to make the evening a success.Let your child do as many tasks as she is capable of, and let go of the need to have everything 'perfect'. After all building your child's confidence and improving her planning skills are far more important than having everything 'just so.'

Is It Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or Just Boy Behavior?

Have you ever wondered if your son had A.D.H.D or whether he was just behaving as normal boys do? After all boys will be boys.....This article sheds some light on the issue.

Is It Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or Just Boy Behavior?

It has been suggested to you that your son may be suffering from attention deficit. This information has come to you via a teacher or a child care worker or family member or maybe it has crept into your own mind without any suggestion from anyone. You struggle with the idea and you wonder, is it really attention deficit or is he just being an active boy. After all, the symptoms of attention deficit and the normal behavior of boys can look remarkably alike. They are distractible, don’t stay focused on one thing for very long, can be impulsive, are forgetful (except for details of video games!) don’t listen for directions and are constantly moving. Sound like your boy?

The diagnosis of ADHD has increased tremendously over the past three decades, if the prescription of medication to treat the disorder is any indication. In the years between 1987 and 1996 there was a 600% increase in the prescription of medication for the treatment of ADHD. (the increase in the prescriptions was for children enrolled in HMOs, during that same period there was only a 17% increase in enrollment in the HMOs). This is a staggering increase in the diagnosis of ADHD, add to this that boys are three times more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than are girls and the question of if this is boy behavior or ADHD is a significant one.

The only way to really tell the difference between the two is a very thorough diagnosis. Unfortunately, between the pressures on teachers and classrooms and the busy health care practitioner there can be a rush to diagnose a child with ADHD simply by looking at the diagnostic criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistics Manual Fourth Edition (DSM IV) and declare a child to be indeed ADHD, particularly if his behavior and academic performance is suffering. One study in Australia showed that three fourths of the children diagnosed with ADHD had been improperly diagnosed (Australia has the highest use of psychostimulants for ADHD in children).

Fortunately, most experts agree that there is a way to accurately diagnose ADHD but they are also quick to point out that there are a number of disorders in children that can present like ADHD. Some of these disorders are depression, anxiety, learning disabilities among others. It is also possible that what looks like ADHD simply is immaturity due to the fact that the maturity rate among boys varies significantly from boy to boy, particularly compared to girls. If you suspect that there may be a problem with ADHD, make sure that you are getting a good assessment, remembering that ADHD is what is called a “rule out” disorder. A rule out disorder is one that is diagnosed partially by ruling out other, more readily identifiable disorders.

The diagnosis of ADHD is done usually by comparing your son’s behavior with boys his own age. Even within this comparison there are tolerances built into the measures to account for variability among individuals. It is also important to note that behavior that is showing up in only one setting (such as at home but not school, or school but not after care, or at school but nowhere else) is not likely to be ADHD, it is most probable that something else is going on. These comparisons are done using questionnaires constructed specifically to evaluate children for a select number of disorders, including ADHD. It is also widely accepted that children less than elementary school age should not be diagnosed with ADHD as the symptoms of ADHD and toddlerhood are too similar.

So the question of whether it is boy behavior or ADHD can really only be answered with a thorough evaluation. If you choose to ask your pediatrician about the issue, make sure he or she is familiar with the guidelines established by the American Academy of Pediatrics for diagnosing ADHD. This will demonstrate that at least they have some awareness of the complexity of diagnosing ADHD and will not be in a hurry to prescribe medication. Recognize that you son is going to active and distractible unless actively enganged in an activity. Don’t expect him to sit quietly and play without movement or noise. This is just not the way boys are. However, if his distractibility or activity seems to be excessive, make sure that you get a good assessment.

Needing more information about ADHD? A more detailed and complete article on this important issue of boys and ADHD can be read at Boys Behavior, a web page dedicated to Boys and Their Unique Behavior http://boysbehavior.thehomeschoolorganizer.com

What's the Difference Between ADD & ADHD?

What's the Difference Between ADD & ADHD?

Have you ever wondered what the difference between A.D.D & A.D.H.D is? Or whether your child had A.D.D /A.D.H.D?
This post at the About.ADD site has some answers.

Tips to help your hyperactive A.D.D. Child Enjoy The Festive Season.

Christmas is a very stressful time of the year for children with A.D.D. A lack of structure combined with a complete change in the daily routine and add in guests and you have a recipie for trouble. Children often act up and behave worse at times like this.

But you can help your child to enjoy the Christmas season if you take the proper steps to prepare him in advance.

Here are some tips to help your child to cope with and truly enjoy this Christmas Season:

1. Teach your child Coping Skills Ahead Of Time.- What are the areas your child has problems with? Is it sharing toys with other kids? Then sit down together and decide which toys he woukd be willing to share and which ones he wants to put away until the guests are gone. Does he throw tantrums or yell when he's angry? Then teach him to breathe deeply and count to 10 to prevent him from exploding.

2. Rehearse correct behavior ahead of time so that by the holiday rolls around your child is famaliar with it. Does he have a problem with proper dinner-table ettiquette? Then practice having a formal dinner once a week so that by the time Christmas rolls around he is an expert.

3. A.D.D. children are more easily over-stimulated. Too many events one after the other make it exhausting for the child and this leads to poor behavior, tantrums etc. Build in enough down time into both yours and your child's days during this hectic season.

Take a walk alone together, lie down for a nap together or give your child some headphones and let him listen to some soothing brainwave entrainment soundtracks. The Calm Kids A.D.D. Brainwave Entrainment Program has 2 different soundtracks. One soundtrack is set to soothing and calming music and the other to ocean waves.

Just 20 minutes listening to these soundtracks helps to calm and soothe a child and reduces hyperactivity dramatically. To get your copy of the Calm Kids Program (Which includes the 2 soundtracks as well as several other information products designed to help you take immediate control of your child's A.D.D. & start reducing symptoms now) go to Calm Kids

4. Take one-on-one time with your child. Play a game together, read him a story or get him to run some errands with you.

5. Encourage your child's strengths.

6.Include your child in tasks.

Let him help you to cook the meal, wrap presents, etc. It may seem to require more effort and the tasks may take a bit longer with your child helping, but it will save you time in the long run because you won't have to take time to deal with misbehavior.