Is is ADHD or is it Me???

Greetings!

I woke up this morning with this issue heavily embedded in my mind for some reason, so I'm going to take the opportunity to write about ADHD and our children.

Is it me or does anyone else see a correlation between the rise in our sedentary, and work-aholic lifestyles, and the rate of ADHD diagnoses in our children? It seems to me that something has to be skewed, or at the very least, something needs to be investigated if ADHD will continue to be used as a reason for the lack of success that our children are experiencing.

Remember when we were kids and we HAD to go outside? In some houses you weren't even aloud to come inside until dinner was ready! Those days are gone, especially for families living in the inner city. Playing outside in this day in age can literally be a hazard! What about the days when bills being payed and food being on the table was enough? Now parents are strugging just to provide extras like cell phones and designer jeans. Since the focus has seemingly shifted to giving our children material things, the very thing they need to most (YOU) is never around.

I am in no way suggesting that every School Psychologist or outside clinician is wrong in their diagnostic practices. Certainly, they have witnessed these symptoms, and have been provided with parent and teacher reports that all say the same thing....."he can't sit still; she won't be quiet; he is so disrespectful" and countless other complaints that come from parents and school staff alike. What I am suggesting is that before we ascribe to whatever these individuals label our children to be, we MUST take their environment and our contribution (as a parent) to it under strong consideration. "So what are you saying Coach?" Bottom line: Some possibilities need to be exhausted before we continue to place blame and labels on innocent children.

What do I mean??? Well for starters, before you sign the bottom of those IEP papers check your child's diet! If you are sending him to school loaded up on Sodas, candy, cheese curls, and other food that has ZERO nutritional value, I can guarantee this will have an adverse effect on his education. Requiring no exercise and them pumping her full of sugar is a recipe for disaster! And how unfair of a request is it to ask a child, who already has an abundance of energy not to expend it in positive ways, and compound the issue by way of malnourishment?!?! I haven't even mentioned what poor nutrition does to your brain, but understand that this should be one of the first places you start when you are seeing hyperactive behaviors in your child.

Second, have you been to your daughter's classroom and just sat there the entire day? From my experience as a School Counselor, many-a-attitude changed when a parent or a highly regarded adult unexpectedly came to observe the environment. Not to mention that you may come to observe one thing but be enlightened to something totally different.

• The teaching style in the classroom may not be the most effective for your child. Or perhaps there are other things in the environment that are serving as a barrier to the learning process.
• Look at his work samples.
• Ask the teacher if he is advanced or significantly behind in his work. If she is bored or being left behind, a host of behavior problem could ensue. Sometimes a Learning Disability is a more appropriate diagnosis than ADHD.
• Have your child's eyes checked. Not being able to see could also cause a negative reaction to the learning environment.

Third, know your child and apply that knowledge to every situation!!! ADVOCATE ADVOCATE ADVOCATE!!!! You must be a present and outspoken force at the school. The staff needs to be on your side in order for everyone to be on the same page with regards to you your child's education! Seek help from the School Counselor. Your child may have things he/she needs to discuss without you being present. This step alone could aleviate much of the problem.

Advice Corner:
This entry is chock full of advice but I wanted to drive home the point that you owe it to your children to make the effort to be there for them as much as possible. If you focus most on absolute needs, secondary problems tend take care of themselves!

Be Blessed!!