Needing help from teachers/parents w/kids and ADD

[nathangela]

I'm certain many of you have read the thread about my daughter who has an auditory processing disorder and how we couldn't get help rom the schools for her.Well, we found out on Wednesday that she has ADD as well which didn't suprise me ...it was already suspected awhile back.We have decide to do "virtual school" which is homeschooling by computer and they go to a center twice a week to be checked and helped and meet our states standards ....it's a pretty cool program.K12 is the school that it is(if any are interested in it)So,we are starting her in speech.But I have no idea about hw to help a child with ADD.I'm scared...I don't want to mess up.She's 13 and a beautiful soul.....very innocent.I've also put her in therapy to help her self esteem levels and with her anxiety and depression.Does anyone have any pointers?I'm desperate and open to hear them!
THANK YOU EVERYONE!
Brightest Blessings!
Angela

[yogagurl]

Angela,
I am a mental health social worker, and work with lots of kids with Add/ADHD. I have a few suggestions that I hope will be helpful. First of all, be very careful about labeling your daughter. Having an attention problem does not need to define her as a person, and I have seen this happen to lots of kids. Try not to refer to the diagnosis too much, it's easy to do, and takes the focus off what a great kid she is! Kids with attention issues need plenty of structure and to know exactly what your expectations are at all times. They don't always predict well, so let her know what to expect. There are several homeopathic alternatives that are great for helping kids focus. Check your local health food store. She probably needs plenty of things to do, and it is helpful to have activities at the ready to keep her involved in positive activities. Coloring is often a soothing activity because of the repetitive motion, and gives her something she can focus on. I'm sure you know that too much stimuli can make her attention issue worse, so try and keep the outside noise to a minimum when she is doing school work. I know families who allow their child with ADD drink coffee once or twice a day. Caffeine will have the opposite affect on her, and help her settle down. Kidswith ADD are often very smart and creative so keeping her challenged is really important. I think the worst feeling for a kid with ADD is boredom, and that's when negative behaviors occur. Watch her and learn to predict when she needs extra attention, something to do, or less stimuli. I am not a huge proponent of ADD meds. I think there are some children who really need them to function, but not all kids do. ADD meds have many negative side effects, and often the side effects outweigh the benefits. Kids often outgrow attention concerns, so this does not have to mean she will have this problem for life. Sometimes when a child is diagnosed with ADD parents are told that this will follow them their whole lives, and that sets parents and kids up to believe that it will be like this forever, so it is. Be optimistic and open to new possibilities, nothing lasts forever. That's all I can think of right now. I hope this is helpful.

Kristi

[Peace]

great advice, kristi. i'm afraid i have not too much to offer. i'm ADD as well, but i just had to learn to deal with it. it's great that now-a-days there are programs and structures to help with that. i'm sorry you're having a hard time, angela, but reiki will be sent to ya'll and i hope it works out well for you both! i'll keep ya'll in mind, sweets! ~hugs~

[Anamere]

My Brother has Adult ADD as well. My Mom had really good insticts with him and found different alternatives that seemed to really help. We were also homeschooled from 6-8th grade while we lived in Chicago (During my Dad's 3 year hiatus from alcohol lol).

Some idea's (what my Mom did she was really creative) on keeping an ADD kiddo's busy...are making a creative themes for the week. Like we would talk about a country then have little outings and visit around that weeks theme. Like since there were only two of us we could go into a kitchen at a resturant or stores and learn a little about what they did... then make crafts tied to that country.

Then we would take turns shopping (one week brother, the next week me) and cooking that week and then Friday was International night (make a dinner from that country). So there was alot to this one thing. We had to learn how to plan for our meal, buy the food, cook that meal, shop for the number in our family and budget the money. Learn about a work place (like the resturaunt workings yanno?). It gave us alot to focus on in our extra time. Mom like broke it down so we could really think about it. Do crafts related to it and such.

She also had us involved in the cheap or free stuff through the parks department. Brother did martial arts as it really taught him alot of self control.

Now, just to add as an adult now working with children with Add/ADHD I think teaching them to replace the negative "words" they say when they get frustrated with positive ones is very important. I really like to have them say "I'm still learning"

For instance if they say "I'm dumb" I will say "oh wait, lets not say that... you shouldn't be so hard on yourself... what you could try is reminding yourself that 'I'm still learning' because you are... so let's try that next time" Then when next time comes I'll just say "ooops, lets try what we talked about" and it's silly for them at first but seems to help. I even "caught" a couple of them saying this to each other when I was out of the work room. So very cool!

Ok almost done here...When you see her getting frustrated have her pull back, take a break do something different that involves getting and walking away or around todo it... like yanno have her measure a picture frame and calculate the dimensions or something. Or pass a ball (sock or small sand bag) back and forth spelling out a word (are you familiar with the game "sparkle"? She could play that and practive spelling) or naming cities and states. I'm not sure of her level so these are just some idea's. Working and writing on dry erase boards are fun and there's alot of stuff you can do with those.


Ok ramble girl out!

[nathangela]

Awesome guys!Thyank you!Oh Kristi...the cool thing is she LOVES to color in coloring books and draw......just really loves art.We make her go out and play or she would veg infront of the tv or playstation.I never knew that about the caffine.I planned on looking up some naturals to use on her and I'm giving her her first reiki attunement next week as well...I refuse to go the meds route.Oh....sparkle....she loves that game and we just bought a huge dry erase board yesterday.Funnny thing is that I didn't even know that any of these things were used for ADD kids.Amazing how spirit works.Here's a question.....this girls is totally disorganized(you should see her room)she can't stay on yask with it and stacks everything....anybody have any ideas for that?


Thank you all again!I love you guys!

[reikienergyheals]

This is applause for Kristi! I could not agree with you MORE!!! Meds are NOT the only way and yes they are needed for SOME kids, not all. It is not a life sentence, either!!! People change and grow out of things and this is definitely one of them. (How many times have I had kids and/or parents tell me their kid couldn't/wouldn't do/try something because they had ADD...) Ok, I won't rant here but yes, structure is important. Clear, explicit expectations are important. Breaking things down into small, simple steps is important. Scaffolding is important - building on what she already knows and extending a bit from there. It's important to draw on a previous success and move it forward a bit.

As for organization, this seems to be one of the most difficult things for kids in general, but especially kids with ADD/ADHD. My advice would be to take a drawer or a different small area and clean it out with her. The idea of cleaning the entire room is overwhelming and so bit by bit is my advice. The next step is going to be about maintaining that space. I guess getting into habits.

My other advice is to never stop doing what works for you and her, and to continue to seek out advice/information.

[katie14]

My son has not been been diagnosed with ADD, but probably could be. I have found that food dyes have a bad effect on him. Especially reds and yellows. Also, milk is a tough one. I occasionally give him Tranquil Child or Focus For Kids if he is having a hard time focusing. They are both herbal remedies.

[saffy]

Like Aura said, I really have nothing to add, the advise already given sounds wonderful and any and all can be tried to see what works best for your daughter. I will certainly keep her on the reiki grid and send you positive thoughts.

[nathangela]

Yes....I agree NO MEDS...I'm going the homeopathic way for her-I don't agree wityh the meds issue either.I also do not want to label her because then she becomes it.She will overcome this!Thank you all for the advice!Loved it.I may ask for some advice still at times ,I hope this is ok with you all!

Brightest Blessings!


P.S.-has anyone heard the add/adhd people are indigos?And that autistic are crystal children?What do you all think?

[reikienergyheals]

I have heard that a lot of indigo children are diagnosed with add/adhd, but not that all kids with add/adhd are indigos.

[saffy]

I believe that is true. A lot of Indigo children have been diagnosed with learning impairments.

[nathangela]

Thank you all again!I love you all!I finally feel like things are going her way now and are only going to get better!

[katie14]

They will!!!

[reikienergyheals]

Yes, they sure will. Sounds like this new schooling situation is going to be a great, positive step for your daughter.

[♥Starlene]

im late but hugs anyhow and reiki coming,,, i may have a slight bit of ADD myself but I think thats just my personality,,, i actually have to stop things sometimes and walk away or i could get frustrated with something, have a hard time focusing sometimes and have to always be busy,,, but ive learned to deal with that in many of the ways you all described,,, it was almost like wow,,, are they talking about me? i wouldnt ever think of putting my kids on those ADD drugs or myself,,, but learning to deal with the issues is how to help heal it, not covering them up with meds... good for you Angela, im happy your getting some results with your daughter!
((hugs))

[reikienergyheals]

I just read an article that many kids (not all) with ADD/ADHD could have alleviated symptoms through more physical activity. It went on to say that with the pressure to teach to the test/standards, recess is cut from the school day. Especially as kids get older, recess and break time decreases. I know that's true here in California and I assume (no thanks to No Child Left Behind) in many if not all other states.

It made a lot of sense. More kids are being diagnosed yet at the same time, they are being offered less time to break from work/study.

Ok, before I REALLY get on a soap box, I'm signing out.

[♥Starlene]

I think that most of the world would be better off with more physical exercise! I think the lack of exercise causes a LOT of issues, not just ADD or ADHD,,, so that article you read sure doesnt surprise me! I know from my own experience of working out on a regular basis and not working out on a regular basis,,, I feel healthier, sleep better, eat better etc,, when I do work out... Kids have got to be the same if not worse because their little bodies need activity to feel good,,, that is an interesting correlation though

[reikienergyheals]

Yeah, it made a lot of sense to me, too. I remember having three recess breaks as a kid and two breaks in high school. Kids these days get one in most high schools, none in junior high/middle, and two in elementary. There is a decrease in mental breaks from tasks, plus added pressure to pass those tests - it's no wonder there are more and more kids with ADD/ADHD. Good to know that there are ways to cope and alleviate symptoms. It's wonderful to have strategies that help.

[nathangela]

She saw her counselor today.....who will be working with her on ways to deal with her add.I also startd her on EPO and 5-HTP but I think it's upseting her stomach.I've found some natural stuff as well we're going to try out.Thank you all for the support.Oh....the recess thing....our gitls LOVE to play outside.....they'd rather play basketball or 4 square then to play video games.We all feel the same on the recess thing.

[reikienergyheals]

That's super great - I'm anti-video games! I have a HUGE soapbox to stand on over that but I will spare all of you from it.