ADHD Tips » Kids

Symptoms Of Attention Deficit Disorder – Coping Mechanisms For Parents And Kids

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 03:31:41 +0000

The symptoms of attention deficit disorder are set out in the DSM Vol IV. Depending on the type of ADHD, symptoms will range from inattentiveness, hyperactivity, distractability to forgetting things, inability to focus and failure to concentrate. The method of diagnosis is not exactly rocket science and has been criticised as not being objective enough and neither is it a diagnostic test.

Parents will have to decide early on what kind of medication is going to suit their child best. Whatever the medication, it will not cure ADHD. But any medication should be safe in the long term, not lead to any type of addiction or substance abuse and above all, should not have nasty side effects like disturbing the child’s sleep. Most of the ADHD psychostimulants used in controlling the symptoms of attention deficit disorder fall short of those criteria and there is much controversy about how damaging they are. Parents should be able to find out about alternative treatments for ADHD such as homeopathy ADHD which has no side effects.

When ADHD is diagnosed, parents can do so much to help the child come to terms with attention deficit disorder symptoms and can do it so successfully that it can be seen as a gift rather than a curse. Giving positive feedback is one way. Never concentrate on the negative things but try to give praise every day. Spending time with an ADHD child is very important too.

Hyperactivity, another one of the symptoms of attention deficit disorder can play havoc with family life. A great coping mechanism is to get ‘green time’ and sports activities into the daily routine. You will be richly rewarded as the ‘feel good’ endorphins do wonders for the child’s mood, as indeed it does for any adult who practices any physical activity. Choosing the right type of sport is very important though. It seems that where concentration is demanded (for example in football, basketball and baseball), ADHD children definitely do less well. They tend to excel in swimming (look at Michael Phelps), martial arts, gymnastics and wrestling.

Even if some of the ADHD medications may help the child to stay alert and focus much better, again the parents can do so much to help. First they should check out what is going on in the school and actively seek out the teacher to find out exactly what strategies and behaviour plans she has implemented. They also need to resist any attempt by teachers who may recommend some ADHD medication such as psychostimulants. The parents have to make an informed choice. To help you do that, look at the link below for a safe and effective ADHD treatment which is excellent at controlling symptoms of attention deficit disorder.

Robert Locke is a Health enthusiast who specializes in Children’s Health. He has written extensively on ADHD. Discover what ADHD Alternative Therapy is available.

Technorati Tags: attention, Coping, deficit, disorder, Kids, Mechanisms, parents, symptoms

Let’s raise kids to be entrepreneurs

admin — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 07:07:29 +0000

Recently at TEDxEdmonton, Cameron Herold discussed what he considers a fundamental flaw in contemporary education, the lack of attention toward teaching young entrepreneurs. Herold argues that many kids who are bored in school might in fact be budding entrepreneurs. In his talk, he implicitly criticizes education that is too focused on cultivating academics over children’s [...]

Looking South at Education – What Can Canadians Learn?
Parent Involvement
Canadian Kids “Sing Sing” on Music Monday

View full post on Our Kids Blog

Technorati Tags: entrepreneurs, Kids, Let’s, Raise

Healthy Schools, Happy Kids

admin — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 07:55:19 +0000

Parents have been railing against nutritional deficits in school lunches and inadequate gym programs for awhile, but with nutritional guidelines being met and a moratorium on spending halting any progress, it was beginning to look like an unhealthy situation for our nation’s kids was never going to change. Unfortunately, parents with limited finances often count [...]

No related posts.

View full post on Our Kids Blog

Technorati Tags: Happy, Healthy, Kids, Schools

Sending kids to camp… by portaging!

admin — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 08:02:16 +0000

Charity Raises Money to Send Kids to Summer Camp Although the base of my feet felt bruised, my thumbs were stiff and I couldn’t stand up straight, it was well worth it – we raised over $30,000 to help send 30 underprivileged kids to camp this summer. On June 5, I was one of 48 [...]

The secret to picking a great camp for your kids
Our Kids Go To Camp magazine hits stands today
An Introduction to Overnight Camp

View full post on Our Kids Blog

Technorati Tags: camp…, Kids, portaging, Sending

The secret to picking a great camp for your kids

admin — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 08:33:39 +0000

Do you want to know how to pick the best summer camp for your kids? Watch how the staff treat each other. You can tell a lot about the atmosphere and general attitude of a children’s summer camp by taking a tour and observing a few things. Are you greeted warmly and immediately? Do the [...]

View full post on Our Kids Blog

Technorati Tags: Camp, great, Kids, picking, Secret

ADHD Meds for Kids – New Concerns

admin — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 05:51:55 +0000

In the UK, the cost of ADHD meds for kids comes to about £28 million a year! A recent BBC programme pointed out that, apart from the cost, a study of over 600 children who had ADHD were no better off after years of treatment on meds for ADHD. In fact the researchers who were from the University of Buffalo, had to admit that there was no evidence to show that medication was better than other types of interventions in the long term. As a result of the programme, medical authorities are now recommending behavioural interventions, rather than medication! You will not find this information on any of the websites sponsored by the makers of Ritalin or the other ADHD meds for kids mentioned in the study.

The alarming conclusions also pointed out that the negative effects far outweighed any benefits. They had expected that there would be some benefits after years of treatment but they noticed that there were weight and growth problems which non-ADHD children just did not have. This completely overturned a previous study which pointed out that a year’s medication was much more beneficial than ADHD behavioural therapy. It is now recommended that behaviour therapy should take precedence and many experts from both sides of the Atlantic are at pains to point out that medication alone is just not sufficient. It may have some short term benefits in lessening ADHD symptoms but the long term effects are not at all convincing.

The same BBC programme showed some disturbing footage of a boy who has been on meds for ADHD for over ten years. His behaviour has worsened and he has become more violent and aggressive. He has been expelled from school for assaulting his teachers and is now facing an uncertain future while his whole family lives in terror of him.

ADHD meds for kids tread a delicate path. While helping some children, their side effects can be devastating. The long term effects are not at all clear and there are even negative outcomes, as the above TV programme and research has shown. Parents are now looking for a valid alternative and there are thousands of parents who have not been fobbed off with the ” ADHD meds for kids ” charade organised with a multi million budget by the drug companies. Parents are waking up and also find that the cost of an alternative treatment, such as an ADHD homeopathic one, is far cheaper and more effective than anything Big Pharm can offer.

One possibility is to have a close look at an ADHD natural/homeopathic remedy which is effective, safe and free from side effects which could damage the child’s physical and mental development.

Robert Locke is a Health enthusiast who specializes in Children’s Health. He has written extensively on ADHD. Discover what Natural ADHD treatment is available.

Technorati Tags: ADHD, Concerns, Kids, Meds

The Importance of a Tech-Friendly Home for Your Kids

admin — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 09:39:08 +0000

Parents often find themselves attempting to pry their children away from the technology they love (from television programs to video games to Facebook to iPhone apps). Indeed, kids today seem to be spending more and more time plugged in to any form of media or social networking they can get their hands on. And with [...]

View full post on Our Kids Blog

Technorati Tags: home, Importance, Kids, TechFriendly

Massage Calms ADHD Kids

admin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 06:57:38 +0000

Helping Children Find Focus

Cathy Ulrich

Imagine lying on a massage table. As your massage therapist sets to work, you feel your body relax. Your muscles soften, your nervous system calms. Now, imagine how you feel when the massage is over–relaxed, alert, calm, and content.

Anyone who has gotten a massage understands the many benefits that it offers. Massage is usually reserved for adults–or sometimes infants–but what about massage for kids and adolescents? If massage helps calm the body and improve alertness, how might it help kids with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)? Can children and teenagers who can’t sit still benefit from massage?

Understanding ADHD

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is rapidly rising as the most common psychiatric diagnostic label for children. Anywhere from 3-7 percent of all school-age children and adolescents may have it, and it is one of the primary causes of behavioral problems in general pediatric settings. Nine boys are diagnosed with ADHD for every girl, but the rate of diagnosis for girls has been rising as well, and girls who are diagnosed have the same level of impairment as boys.

Kids with ADHD show difficulty holding attention and display impulsive behaviors and overactivity levels beyond what might be expected for their age group. They typically show poorer academic performance, have difficulty in social settings, and can’t adapt as well emotionally as kids without ADHD. Studies show that a diagnosis of ADHD puts kids at higher risk for delinquent behaviors and substance abuse. Other diagnoses such as learning disabilities, mood disorders, and anxiety disorders are often seen in the same children.

Medical Treatments

Now a household name, the drug Ritalin is the most common medication prescribed for children diagnosed with ADHD. In fact, it’s the most common drug prescribed for any childhood disorder. It’s been estimated that more than five million school-age children take Ritalin annually.

Known to stimulate areas of the brain associated with attention, arousal, and inhibition, Ritalin seems to help improve ADHD symptoms in about 75 percent of cases, but its effects last only as long as it’s taken, and it does produce side-effects. Nervousness, headaches, sleeplessness, and rapid heart rate are sometimes seen with its use, and overdose can produce severe effects such as agitation, hallucinations, high blood pressure, seizures, heart arrhythmias, and psychosis. In addition, studies are only now being conducted on long-term effects.

Ritalin, as well as other psychostimulant drugs, can be effective in improving attention span and modifying behaviors associated with ADHD, but kids need to be monitored carefully for side effects and appropriate dosage.

Massage for ADHD

Two recent studies conducted by the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami reported that regular massage therapy can be an effective treatment for kids with ADHD. One study found adolescent boys who received ten 15-minute daily massages were observed by their teachers to be more focused in their schoolwork, and they fidgeted less. In addition, the children rated themselves as happier than those who participated in a relaxation therapy program.

Another study involved kids aged 7-18, 20 percent of whom were girls. Each subject received a 20-minute massage twice a week. They showed immediate improvement in their moods and longer-term behavioral improvement in the classroom. They also reported feeling happier and their teachers found them to be more attentive.

In adult studies, massage has been shown to reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol, helping to mitigate the active fight-or-flight response. Massage also helps improve math computation performance and raises alertness levels, as measured on electroencephalograms (EEGs). Finally, massage decreases depression and increases mental focus. The same effects are seen in children and teenagers with ADHD.

The Details

Incorporating professional massage into your child’s routine may help him to develop an age-appropriate ability to focus, a calmer disposition, and even increased confidence. Studies report that two 20-minute massages a week are enough to show significant improvement in ADHD children. Because these kids have trouble staying still for prolonged periods, they better tolerate shorter, more frequent massages.

For massage on children with ADHD, a practitioner generally uses simple, moderate-pressure strokes to the child’s head/neck, arms, torso, legs, and back. Dividing time between these areas–say four minutes each–will address the full body and is enough to get the desired effect. Most kids do fine fully clothed.

A comfortable bed, chair, or table in a quiet room is best. For parents seeking skilled bodywork for their kids, chair massage is a great choice, done with the child fully clothed and for about 20-30 minutes at a time.

In addition, supplementing with home massages between professional sessions can also be useful. Talk to your massage therapist about private massage lessons for you. She can teach you simple, effective techniques to use on your child when frequent visits to the massage therapist may not be practical.

By adding massage to your child’s routine, you’re giving him much needed physical contact and helping to calm his nervous system, which will pay dividends in his ability to do school work, interact with peers and teachers, and be happier in general. And if you’re massaging your child yourself, you’ll create the opportunity for a stronger emotional bond between the two of you.

Becky Manor, LMT, is a Licensed Massage Therapist, offering professional massage therapy in Bastrop, Texas, located just off Hwy 71 near Bastrop State Park at the entrance of Tahitian Village. Have a look at http://www.tmw-massagetherapy.com for more details.

Technorati Tags: ADHD, Calms, Kids, Massage

ADD / ADHD Kids Baseball Jersey

admin — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 12:14:17 +0000

ADD / ADHD Kids Baseball Jersey

Technorati Tags: ADHD, Baseball, Jersey, Kids

Murals teach kids visual literacy

admin — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 16:51:49 +0000

Murals are a way of expressing what is big and bold and out of the box! Done right, they brighten every hallway, classroom or bedroom, but “creating the mural itself is the best part of all” says Maureen Walton from Maureen Walton Murals. Maureen is a professional artist that works with students to co-create colourful [...]

View full post on Our Kids Blog

Technorati Tags: Kids, literacy, Murals, Teach, visual