8 Ways to Help Kids with ADHD Succeed in School

By Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S.

Kids with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a neurobiological disorder characterized by inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity, tend to have a harder time in school because of the disorder.

“Research suggests that children with ADHD exhibit deficits in cognitive and achievement testing, lower grades, and an increased use of special education services in comparison with the general population,” said Jacqueline Iseman, Ph.D, a clinical psychologist with a private practice in Potomac, Maryland.

 Kids with ADHD also are more likely to need tutoring, repeat a grade or have learning difficulties, she added. So how can you help them do well in school?

October ADHD Awareness Month- Omega-3 Fatty Acids Help ADHD

   by Chelo Aestrid on September 29, 2013.

For the spirit of upcoming October as ADHD Awareness Month, it is good to know a study has found that omega-3 fatty acids has worked in the treatment for ADHD in rats.

Scientists have known that diet plays a major role in affecting children’s behavior. A lack of certain minerals and vitamins are present in children with ADHD, and multi-vitamin supplements have shown positive changes against ADHD.

Having abundant and tasty foods containing omega-3 fatty acids in meals can be a great alternative to the “over-medication” of those suffering from ADHD in recent years.

Custom jobs for adult kids with autism created by parents

Parents of adult kids with autism are creating jobs that play to their strengths — like starting a T-shirt silk-screening shop if they are artistic, or organic farms if they like to work outdoors.artistic, or organic farms if they like to work outdoors.

(Photo: Dalynn Montgomery)

Teach Children By Example

Children may close their ears to advice,

but they keep their eyes open to an example.

What a child sees, he follows.

If a child gets love, he becomes a loving person.

If a child is cared for, he becomes caring.

If a child is always condemned, he condemns others.

If a child is berated, he learns to berate everyone.

If a child gets appreciated, he learns to look at the bright side of life always.

A child is just like wet clay.

Elders are the potters, it is up to them what they make out of this wet clay…

A pot to fill in water and replenish life

or a pot to fill drugs and destroy life!

Never Say These 9 Things To Teachers

 As the first weeks of school for many districts draw to a close, we are eager to show teachers what we do -- and more importantly -- do not think about them. In that vein, we propose a list of belittling phrases -compiled by Rebecca Klein- that you should NEVER say to teachers.

School Stress

What are your memories of your school days? Do you remember school as fun, boring, exciting, a time to be with friends? Some children experience a great deal of stress associated with school. 

Your Child is Not Your Equal: Why You Have to Be the Boss

by James Lehman, MSW
 

As a parent, if you aren’t the boss in your family, the lines of authority can become blurred very quickly. When your children are unsure about who's really in charge, they often act out, engage in risky behavior, or become extremely bossy and patronizing as a result. And eventually you start to resent them because you don't have a way to tell them what to do. You’ve effectively lost control.

7 Tips for Helping Your Child Manage Stress

By Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S.

Like adults, kids also struggle with stress. Too many commitments, conflict in their families and problems with peers are all stressors that overwhelm children.

Of course, “a certain amount of stress is normal,” said Lynn Lyons, LICSW, a psychotherapist who specializes in treating anxious families and co-author of the book Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents: 7 Ways to Stop the Worry Cycle and Raise Courageous and Independent Children with anxiety expert Reid Wilson, Ph.D. It’s normal to feel stressed about starting middle school or taking a big test, she said.

The key to helping kids manage stress is teaching them to problem-solve, plan and know when to say yes and no to activities and commitments, she said. It isn’t to “make everything smooth and comfortable.”

My Son Had Autism. Then He Didn't.

by Shawn Bean

I'm trying to hold him, but he's squirming. The airport lounge is packed with people, and I can feel all eyes on me: the dad who cannot appease his toddler. Brandy sees me struggling, and comes up with a quick fix. She flips over the stroller. She places Jackson next to it. He begins to spin one of the wheels with his hand. He keeps spinning it. Over and over and over. He's completely absorbed. I look at Brandy quizzically. She shrugs.

Jackson was 3 years old at the time, and by all accounts—from mother’s intuition to the experts’ definition—he was on the spectrum.

When children and teens lie…

By Dr Rania Chiourea

Many parents feel betrayed, angry, hurt and frustrated when they catch their child lying. But the truth is that lying is considered, by most child development specialists, to be a natural developmental occurrence in childhood (Encyclopedia of Children's Health). It's wrong, but it's normal. In fact, we all do it to some degree,  hoping to get out of something. So, it’s important to understand what’s behind the lies. All lying isn’t the same. All “lies” aren’t even lies.

Thom Hartmann’s Hunter and Farmer Approach to ADD/ADHD

Thom Hartmann’s approach showing the differences between “Hunters” and “Farmers”.
Taken from Thom Hartmann’s book, “ADD: A Different Perception.”

Helping Children with Learning Disabilities: Practical Parenting Tips for Home and School

by Gina Kemp, M.A., Melinda Smith, M.A., Jeanne Segal, Ph.D. 

 

Has your child recently been diagnosed with a learning disability? Did you immediately begin to worry about how he or she will cope with school?
It’s only natural to want the best for your child but academic success, while important, isn’t the end goal. What you really want for your child is a happy and fulfilling life. With encouragement and the right support, your child can build a strong sense of self-confidence and a solid foundation for lifelong success.

Grandma, about the birth of grandson with Down Syndrome

Meet Jaxon Lee and his proud Mommy.... My daughter. This photo is priceless!!  It was taken only moments after they saw each other for the first time!  Look at the two of them, my beautiful daughter and my adorable and handsome new grandson, looking into the eyes of one another... You can see the love and the beautiful bond!! !

Natural Alternatives to Treat ADHD in Children

by Dr Rania Chiourea

As a parent, do you think that your child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is being over-diagnosed and over-medicated? If your kid has been labeled as ADHD, but you do not feel comfortable with standard medications that can do more harm than good, may be you wish to explore some natural alternatives to subdue hyperactivity within your child.

Autism project looks to early detection

ATLANTA (AP) - In a small room similar to a doctor's office, Marlaina Dreher broke into applause as her 5-year-old son, Brandon, grabbed a red plastic spoon filled with pureed lasagna and fed himself. "Good job taking a bite, buddy," she said, joining in as her son banged his hands on a nearby table. "Good job putting your spoon back." Brandon is autistic, and he's come a long way in his seven weeks in the pediatric feeding disorder program at the Marcus Autism Center. He used to eat only crackers and McDonald's fries, but meal time is no longer a constant battle.

AMAZING: 16 year old with Tourettes, gives an awe-inspiring performance on X Factor

Carlos Guevara surprised the “X Factor” judges when he came out on stage and revealed he suffers from Tourette’s Syndrome — only to then amaze them when he started singing  "Gravity" by John Mayer.  Guevara received a glowing reception from the panel of Kelly Rowland, Paulina Rubio, Demi Lovato and Simon Cowell, who commended the latest of the show's inspirational contestants for not being a "victim" and having a "great voice." Simply Wow!

Down syndrome (DS), or trisomy 21

Down syndrome (DS), or trisomy 21, is the most common genetic cause of developmental disabilities and mental retardation. It is caused by a baby getting extra genetic material from

chromosome 21. It occurs in about 1 in 700 births, is more common in pregnancies with a mother over age 35, and it is more common in boys.

Although sometimes diagnosed prenatally because of an abnormal (low) serum alpha-fetoprotein or after an amniocentesis or chorionic-villus sampling is done in an at risk pregnancy with the finding of abnormal chromosomes, most children are diagnosed at birth because of typical clinical manifestations or findings. These include having poor muscle tone, a small head, flat nasal bridge, upward slanting eyes or palpebral fissures, epicanthal folds, small ears, small mouth, single palmer crease, short fifth finger that turns inward (clinodactyly), excess skin fold at the nape of the neck, large tongue, and a large space between the fourth and fifth toes.

How to Deal With a Bad Tempered Child

 Even the happiest of children have their moments of bad behavior. Outbursts can range from loud temper tantrums to silent treatment, and even to hitting, scratching and biting. How you deal with this type of behavior is different than how you might deal with a child who shows the above listed signs of bad behavior on a more regular basis. If your child falls into the latter category by showcasing a general angry disposition, consider working with him to improve his attitude and outlook on life.

What the kids learn best from their parents

          Related:

• Teach Children By Example
• Your Child is Not Your Equal: Why You Have to Be the Boss 
• Parents attitude

Parents attitude

A friend who was a Chinese Primary school teacher, share her experience
Nowadays the children are very smart. There was once this girl did something wrong and I scolded her.
She said “When I go home, I will tell my mummy you scolded me.”
We the teacher have to be smart enough to handle them.
I told her, “Give me your mummy’s hand phone number now, I want to tell your mummy now that I scold you.”
Then the girl kept quiet.
This kind of incidents happen almost everyday at school. And it’s common to see angry parents who are ignorant of their children’s bad behavior and yet come scolding the teacher.

Autism Treatment Strategies and Parenting Tips

Helping Children with Autism

There are many things parents can do to help children with autism overcome their challenges. But it's also important to make sure you get the support you need. When you're looking after a child with autism, taking care of yourself is not an act of selfishness—it's a necessity. Being emotionally strong allows you to be the best parent you can be to your child in need. These parenting tips can help by making life with an autistic child easier.

Bedtime Tips for Children with Autism

By Lorna Jean King 

Children with autism usually have some sleep pattern problems. Some “go till they drop,” then sleep very soundly all night, and are difficult to get started in the morning. Others have great difficulty getting to sleep and may wake often, or be very restless, winding themselves up in the covers, or even ending up on the floor.
The child who gets a restful night of sleep will be less hyper-irritable in the morning. The “go till you drop” child will be easier to awaken in the morning and is likely to be in a better mood if he can get to bed and to sleep before the stage of complete exhaustion.

Kids, ADHD and Frozen Food

Feeding ADHD Kids

The first place my kids have always gone to for quick snacks and DIY meals is the freezer. If it was prepared frozen food bought in the store, they thought it was junk food. Little did they know that everything in that freezer was anything but junk and I never told them otherwise. I like frozen foods. The berries, seafood, vegetables and snacks were all fresh frozen – no additives, just freezing cold. Actually, I raised my kids on an organic/all natural diet with half of our foods coming from the frozen food isle.

ADHD: What Parents Need to Know

What is Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder or ADHD?

Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is “a condition of the brain that makes it hard for children to control their behavior”. (1) All kids have problems with their behavior from time to time, but kids with ADHD have behavior problems that interfere with regular life and are continual. ADHD used to be called Attention-Deficit Disorder or ADD. ADHD usually lasts your whole life. A lot of adults have ADHD.
Kids with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD or AD/HD) can have different kinds of symptoms:

Sites for Teachers

Here is a list of resources that you can use in your classroom and free materials you can download and incorporate into your lesson plans. For free teaching resources, you can also visit www.learningpage.com.

Raising Children: Teaching The Difference Between Right And Wrong

We All Know The Difference Between Right And Wrong, But Every Child Needs Fine-Tuning

“My child has no respect for authority. He is rebellious and violent.”

 Start to inculcate values in your children as early as possible.

Does this sound familiar? With a little soul-searching, parents facing such a problem may find that their kids are short on the right life values – and that they are responsible. Begin when your child is able to understand speech. However, starting late is better than doing nothing at all.