It occurred to me today that kids diagnosed with ADHD need an active team consisting of 4 parts.
Part 1) Parents and family. All learning starts at home. Learning opportunities arise outside the home, but what has already been taught is the lens through which kids respond to those opportunities. Whatever you do at home, they will remember out in the world. So parents can hopefully find ways to reinforce outside rules in the home. This is also why I try to help Brady see his teachers in a different light, try and bring his grades up by working at home and try to help him see why the rules exist. Also try and make sure all family members involved in your child's care are on the same page as you are. If I chose not to reinforce school rules at home, it would make it that much harder for Brady.
Part 2) The child. Regardless of what your kids remember of what you have taught them, they are individuals who will make their own choice in a single moment, good or bad. I tell Brady often that the medicine he takes only helps him focus a little so he can think about his choices more. It can't make his choices for him. It only takes him part of the way, the rest is up to him. It's hard, really hard, as a parent to put the weight of that responsibility on him, but I think it is so essential for him to learn to take responsibility for his decisions even though it may be harder for him than other kids. And even though he is so young. If he has a prayer of ever being off the medication, he needs to learn the skills it takes to make choices on his own. I also try not to fight his battles for him, letting him handle the things he can, and teach him we can't change another person, but we can change how we respond.
Part 3) Teachers/coaches/bus drivers. If these people don't accept your child has a unique way of learning and responding to stimuli and direction, and that he or she is not acting up just for the heck of it, things will be tough for everyone. I'd encourage being in close contact with your child's teachers and caregivers. They would likely welcome ideas, and if not, I'd say keep suggesting them anyway. Perhaps give them information on ADHD, what it is, why it happens, what can be done about it, help them see it is a condition that requires a different way of approaching a child.
Part 4) Counseling, medication or IEP. A child diagnosed with ADHD will likely need something extra. Something more. Something formal. It can be an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) that brings a team within the school together to help a child with a learning disability. It can be a counselor that helps them through therapy. Or it can be a medication. Which of these it is, or which combination, depends on the child and education situation. In our case counseling so far has not helped, Brady does well at school so we have not sought an IEP. He already feels different sometimes, so I don't want to make that more of an issue if there's not a strong need.
So, for us, medication was the right choice. Finding a balance was very challenging, but I do think it was the right path, at least for now.
With a structured approach like this, I think a child can thrive, though not without bumps in the road. The hardest part is having a new teacher every year!
The challenge is getting everyone on the same page and working as a team. I also think parents should tell their kids about this kind of teamwork, so they understand their role in it and the role of any medication they are taking. I think it makes them feel more secure knowing there is a structure to their life and it gives the motivation to go that extra mile, even when things are hard.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Blog Archive
-
▼
2013
(521)
-
▼
April
(61)
- Postpartum depression is lonely, more in small towns
- Behavior booster: The Behavior Notebook
- Aldi can save money on healthy foods!
- It's almost Invention Party time!
- 401st post! What do kids see through our eyes?
- Funny things Brady says ... about termites...
- Sometimes it seems I just can't win....
- My child led me to God
- Parents judging parents is hurtful, not helpful
- Funny things Brady says... slaving away
- Funny things Brady says ... winter hanging on
- Modern parents are stressed out
- I'm happy and lucky to be a soccer mom!
- Kids do well more often than we think
- For kids with anxieties: worry bullies
- 16 ways to keep marriage sparkly and shiny
- Food allergies: Egg-free cooking, baking, recipes
- Another edition of Whatever-You-Have Soup
- The quiet beauty of Kansas - ice pictures
- Weight loss: 15 tips & tricks I'm using right now!
- Different learning styles, why not behavior styles...
- Sharing testimony of God with your kids
- When a child struggles, don't give up!
- 6 dinner ideas for food allergies, sensory issues
- Help for ADHD: a team with 4 parts
- Barefoot Books: cool cultural books for kids!
- How forgiveness changed my life, literally
- Ice storm! Winter just won't give up!
- Community theater: great family fun!
- Exploring outdoors: what's in your neighborhood?
- Try Something New Thursday: dried cranberries
- Brady's commercial for toothpaste
- Sports: a good learning tool for parent and kid
- More new additions to the prize store
- Working hard at home = success at school!
- You know you're in the Midwest... 20 degree drop...
- You know you're in a small town... lost jacket...
- If touched by ADHD, you MUST see this blog!
- Another blogger's post on strengthening marriage
- Bible verses: they blamed alcohol back then too!
- It's spring, but I can't wait for fall!
- If you try as a parent, you do better than you thi...
- Why I think kindess should start with bugs!
- You know you're in the Midwest when... giant snowf...
- As a parent, I find ideas when I hit bottom
- The deer heart & understanding food
- Off the sustenance grid, we like wild food
- Good deals at Dillons this week - through April 9
- Do You Know Me? Finding Community in a Big City
- 11 ideas on planning, cooking for food allergies
- Sometimes making life "easier" makes it harder
- Practicing gratitude is like building a muscle
- Finding a church that fits - big, small or in between
- Insightful things Brady says... about nature...
- No Screen Sat: soccer, old bridge, treats
- Books to address behavior issues in kids
- 8 reasons why I don't text
- Labeling kids: The mouth speaks what the heart is ...
- Making old posts new again...
- Changed comment settings back...
- Inaugural post: Where I am now
-
▼
April
(61)
Popular Posts
-
I cannot believe that this blog started three months ago. At the beginning I wasn't sure if I'd have enough to say. Well, LOL, I n...
-
According to this article, Wichita has received the 2nd largest snowfall on record, reaching so far 14.2 inches, with the highest being 15 ...
-
Today I want to start talking about a topic very near to my heart: postpartum depression. According to the agency I volunteer with, Postpart...
-
This post is a part of the Fantabulous Valentine's Day Favorites blog chain put together by a great group of bloggers. The theme ...
-
My hunting hubby always comes home with new things to cook. Venison, wild hog, dove. This time it was prairie chicken. They're interesti...
-
Apparently Brady has learned about "humus" - broken down organic matter which makes wonderful soil - as opposed to "hummu...
-
So a recent discovery, given to me by my wonderful mother-in-law, is Walgreens' knock-off perfumes. They have all kinds, like fake Opium...
-
We try to teach our kids a lot of things. Sometimes it feels like there is too much. Eat healthy food. Brush your teeth. Be polite. Be pat...
-
There's a good guest post at the Money Saving Mom blog today . Here's an excerpt: "Because of increasing gasoline prices we n...
-
Do you like my little depiction of a "worry bully" over there? I think that's kind of what they look like sitting on some...
No comments:
Post a Comment
I truly enjoy your comments and love to interact. Be sure to check the "notify me" box below to see new comments and replies to your comment! Thank you!