Sue Scheff: Parent Secrets in Bringing out the best in your ADHD Child

Source: ADDitude Magazine

5 Parent Secrets: Bring Out the Best In Your ADHD Child

How to foster happiness and success in ADHD children who need a little help unwrapping their special gifts.

by Edward Hallowell, M.D.

Every child is born with gifts. A child who has the fascinating trait called attention deficit disorder (ADHD) possesses extraordinary ones, but they may be hidden. And if they’re found, they can be tough to unwrap.

I hear from parents who say they need a plan to help them do that. Well, your wish has been granted. I have a five-step plan, called the cycle of excellence, which will reveal your ADHD child's gifts for all to see.

The plan works best if you love your child in the right way. First, try to catch her spirit and essence. Watch, listen, and interact with her, and don’t direct or worry about getting things done. Just hang out with her. You’ll come to see who your child is.

Before she gets labeled smart or stupid, hardworking or lazy, athletic or klutzy, friendly or taciturn, engaging or standoffish, before she gets labeled ADD or XYZ, a parent usually senses the beginnings of who her child is. Hold on to that!

Second, don’t listen much to the diagnosticians. Out of necessity, diagnosticians oversimplify. We miss the subtleties, the complexities, and the richness that makes up the spirit of a child. It is sad to see how many children lose that essence growing up. You can protect your child’s spirit by noticing it, naming it, and nourishing it.

The cycle of excellence will do the rest. I have used it many times — and have seen it used by other parents. The plan will help your child do more than get by in life. She will thrive and soar beyond where she, her teachers, and even you may have thought she could. Now let’s get started.

Read entire article: http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/5408.html

Sue Scheff: Anxiety Disorder: Symptoms & Treatment

Is ADHD causing your child's anxiety? Or could an anxiety disorder be to blame? Symptom and treatment information.

Free ADHD handout from ADDitude Magazine

Moderate anxiety - when taking a test or performing in a school play - is normal and healthy. But if your child's anxiety is more severe and commonplace, you may fear that an anxiety disorder is to blame. ADDitude has made it easier to understand anxiety with this quick comparison sheet that will help you understand the symptoms and treatment of anxiety disorder vs. ADHD. Contents include...

Common symptoms of anxiety disorder in children
An explanation of primary vs. secondary anxiety in children with ADHD
Effective treatment options for children with primary or secondary anxiety

Get your Free Download Here: http://www.additudemag.com/RCLP/sub/5435.html

Sue Scheff: Keeping Kids Safe This Summer

Source: ADDitude Magazine

Expert tips to help parents avoid some common risks to their ADHD children.

by Larry Silver, M.D.

Little children fall and scrape their knees or bump their heads. Big kids drive too fast, and get into accidents—or experiment with drugs or alcohol. They... well, it doesn't pay to spend too much time pondering all the risks youngsters face.

Suffice it to say that childhood and adolescence can be risky—especially if your child has ADHD. The risk increases in summertime, when kids spend more time outdoors—beyond their parents' supervision.

Not long ago, a mother called me to say that her 10-year-old son, a patient of mine, had vanished. It was 7:00 p.m., getting dark, and Billy was nowhere to be found. She was frantic. I suggested that she call the police. At 8:00 p.m., she called back. Billy had been found, safe, at a nearby creek. He was surprised to see the police and could not understand why his mother was upset.

Billy explained that he had been unable to find a friend after dinner, and so had decided to go frog-catching. Asked why he did not tell his mother where he was going, he said simply, "I forgot." Of course, forgetfulness was not the problem. The problem was that Billy's ADHD medication had worn off around 6:00 p.m. He had headed for the creek on impulse.
I share this story not to scare you, but to remind you of the fact that ADHD makes kids vulnerable.

Remember, ADHD is a neurological disorder, resulting from a deficiency of specific neurotransmitters within the brain. By correcting this deficiency, medication goes a long way toward curbing impulsivity, distractibility, and hyperactivity. But, as Billy's case illustrates, parents must be especially vigilant at those times of day when a child's symptoms may not be fully controlled: early in the morning (before the first dose kicks in) and at the end of the day (when the last dose has worn off).

Be especially careful if your child takes a break from meds on weekends or vacations.
Of course, medication alone is not enough to protect your child. You must be alert to the dangers ADHD kids face, and provide an extra measure of structure and supervision. Here are the biggest causes of accidental injury—and strategies you can use to protect your child:

Read complete article here: http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/976.html

Sue Scheff: ADHD and ODD: Parenting Your Defiant Child

Source: ADDitude Magazine

ADHD behavior issues often partner with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) -- making discipline a challenge. Try these strategies for parents of ADD kids.

by Royce Flippin

Every parent of a child with attention deficit disorder knows what it's like to deal with ADHD behavior problems -- sometimes a child lashes out or refuses to comply with even the most benign request. But about half of all parents who have children with live with severe behavior problems and discipline challenges on an almost daily basis.

That's because 40 percent of children with ADHD also develop oppositional defiant disorder, a condition marked by chronic aggression, frequent outbursts, and a tendency to argue, ignore requests, and engage in intentionally annoying behavior.

How bad can it get? Consider these real-life children diagnosed with both ADHD and ODD:
Read entire article here: http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/879.html

Sue Scheff: Learn more about ADD/ADHD

How to Plan the Perfect Summer

Strategies for finding the right summer camp for your child with attention deficit disorder (ADHD).

This article and more can be found in the ADDitude Magazine - sign up today. Visit their website at www.additudemag.com and you will be amazed at the all the information and articles about kids with ADD/ADHD and adults.

Sue Scheff: ADDitude Magazine - ADD/ADHD with Kids and Adults

ADDITUDE MAGAZINE - Living well with ADD and other Learning Disabilities!

Check out this website with a vast amount of information on ADD/ADHD and more. Not only does this cover kids, it also gives great information about adults with ADD/ADHD.

Are medications right for you? What are the pros? What are the cons? Parenting ADHD and lots more. Visit www.additudemag.com today.

ADDitude Magazine - Valuable Information on ADD/ADHD

Do you have an ADD or ADHD child? Are you an ADHD Adult?

Visit http://www.additudemag.com/ and learn more! ADDitude Magazine offers a wide variety of topics on ADD and ADHD for both children and adults. Check out their informational and educational Blogs!

Stop Interrupting! Better ADHD School Behavior

(Parents Universal Resource Experts - Sue Scheff)- ADDitude Magazine offers great articles on ADHD. How teachers and parents can inspire better ADHD school behavior with help from these impulse-controlling exercises for children with attention-deficit.

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ADHD and Iron: Can Nutrition Improve ADHD Symptons?

How to improve your child's ADHD symptoms by increasing the iron levels in his diet.

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Smile — ADHD Awareness Month!

What is attention deficit? And why is it so misunderstood? You can help set the record straight with this information and these tips for ADHD Awareness Week.

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What Is ADHD? An ADHD Doctor Talks About the Symptoms and Treatment Info

An expert on ADHD and learning disabilities talks about the biology behind attention deficit disorder and why it's sometimes so difficult to diagnose and treat ADHD symptoms in children.

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The Value Support Groups for Parents of ADHD Children | ADDi

When my youngest son was little, I used to dread getting together with other moms. Jarryd has what I call ADRRRHD—Attention Deficit Really, Really, Really Hyperactivity Disorder.

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Treating ADHD with Behavior Therapy: An Alternative ADHD Tre

Alternatives to ADHD medications are of great interest to parents of ADHD children seeking treatment without side effects...

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Michael Phelps Mom on Parenting an ADHD Superstar | ADDitude

Meet the mothers of three ADHD super-achievers — an Olympic record-breaker, a TV heavyweight, and a world-class adventurer — and learn how they helped their kids beat the odds.

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Teens with ADHD: College Survival Guide | ADDitude - ADHD

John Muscarello had no trouble making the transition to college life, despite his severe attention deficit disorder (ADD ADHD).

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How a Student with ADHD Beat the School Bully: Blake Taylor'

Does your child with ADHD face torment and teasing at school? Learn how this successful young author and his mom beat the class bully!

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9 Ways to Achieve Success at School

As a parent of an ADHD child, learning new ways to help our kids in school is important. ADDitude Magazines offers a lot of great articles and free reports.

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Tease-Proof Your Preteen with ADHD

Parents Universal Resource Experts (Sue Scheff) Practicing social skills at home will make school a much friendlier place for your child with ADHD.

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Tracking School Progress for Children with Learning Disabilities

Parents Universal Resource Experts (Sue Scheff) Why parents should check in with teachers half-way through the school year and adjust their parenting skills to ensure academic and social success.

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How to Move Past Mistakes

Parents Universal Resource Experts (Sue Scheff) Eight simple parenting rules for motivating a vulnerable child with attention deficit disorder (ADD ADHD).

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