Sue Scheff: Feingold Program Updated

Newly updated information from The Feingold Program and how it may help your child through diet.

What is the Feingold Program?

It is a new way of shopping and eating that combines old-fashioned nutrition with modern convenience. We guide you through the process, step by step.

First, we teach you how to determine if certain food additives or foods are triggering undesirable symptoms.

Next, we show you how to find the food you enjoy, but in a more natural version. We also guide you to finding healthier non-food products.

Then we show you how to comfortably make these changes a part of your life.

Finally, we provide continual updates as products change. We share the tips we have learned so that you can streamline your shopping and have more free time to enjoy feeling good.

Who Uses the Feingold Program?

Although foods / additives can induce many different symptoms in different people, the majority of families who use the Feingold Program do so to help a family member with behavior and/or learning problems. See the list of symptoms which are often helped by the Program.

Visit www.feingold.org for more fantastic information.

Sue Scheff: No Quick Fix for Anxiety Suffers

By Kara Tamanini - Author and Therapist

No Quick Fix for Anxiety Sufferers

This is something we hear as therapists all the time, “can you fix me really quick.” Or, “do you have a magic wand to just fix me.” Whether the sufferer of anxiety is a child, an adolescent, or an adult, there is NO “quick fix” for anxiety. The problem that we as therapists often run into, is that patients want to be “fixed”, however they are not patient in the amount of time it takes to start to improve and the other “biggie” is that patients do very little of the prescribed treatment in order to get better.

For parents that have children that suffer with anxiety, a large part of anxiety is fear based as well as personal concerns that the child has. There is really no one “right treatment” that works for every child and as a parent or caregiver you need to be patient with your child. Most parents if they have a child that suffers with anxiety symptoms are often very fearful themselves as well as reacting to their child’s anxiety with anger, fear, frustration, etc…

The best way to help your child to get through their anxiety for the long-term is to first let them work through some of their anxiety themselves. Do not “fix” everything for them. A child first has to recognize their anxiety and try to problem-solve for themselves. If they are unable to do this, then be patient and help them through their anxiety.

A thoughtful; well thought out approach with the assistance of a therapist is a really good place to start. Help your child work through their fears and anxieties, but do not take over out of your own fear and do things for them. There are a few treatments out there that are a “quick fix” such as an anti-anxiety medication, however medications “mask” the symptoms of anxiety and do help, but they will not “fix” the problem.

Learn more about Kids Awareness Series at http://www.kidsawarenessseries.com/ and Follow Kara Tamanini on Twitter at @KidTherapist

Sue Scheff: ADD/ADHD Summer Program in N. Florida

Don't miss this exciting event! Check out the YouTube experience of Drop Your Reins! http://www.searchamelia.com/2009/07/08/drop-your-reins-experience-in-yulee-on-july-11/

Source: SearchAmelia.com

A couple of weeks ago we had the pleasure of seeing a young lady by the name of Danielle Herb perform horsemanship of very impressive caliber. SearchAmelia was invited to come and film a clinic that 15 year old Danielle gives to primarily ADHD and Autistic children: The central focus being mastering your fears and anxieties through body movements.

Prior to the start of the clinic we interviewed Danielle and her mother Maryanne and learned that Danielle was diagnosed as severe ADHD at age 5 and went on the long and hard road since then to master her fears and illness in a natural way, in her case through interaction with beautiful horses. She proudly called herself the Horse Listener, as she explained how a horse reflects and mirrors human action, gives and takes and ultimately how communication and clarity claim victory.

After years of preparation Danielle started holding clinics for children with similar problems several months ago and soon found that the results were remarkable. The Drop Your Reins Experience was born.

Drop Your Reins Experience in Yulee on July 11
By Editor on July 8, 2009

Successful Closing of Clinic 5
A couple of weeks ago we had the pleasure of seeing a young lady by the name of Danielle Herb perform horsemanship of very impressive caliber. SearchAmelia was invited to come and film a clinic that 15 year old Danielle gives to primarily ADHD and Autistic children: The central focus being mastering your fears and anxieties through body movements.

Prior to the start of the clinic we interviewed Danielle and her mother Maryanne and learned that Danielle was diagnosed as severe ADHD at age 5 and went on the long and hard road since then to master her fears and illness in a natural way, in her case through interaction with beautiful horses. She proudly called herself the Horse Listener, as she explained how a horse reflects and mirrors human action, gives and takes and ultimately how communication and clarity claim victory.

After years of preparation Danielle started holding clinics for children with similar problems several months ago and soon found that the results were remarkable. The Drop Your Reins Experience was born.

This Saturday SearchAmelia.TV will have another film crew at the scene of the Cheers Ranch in Yulee for the second installment of The Drop Your Reins Experience which will soon be shown as a full hour documentary on Comcast Channel 29 or Digital Cable #264

Parents and Children/Teens Facing Fears and Challenges should pay attention at how The Cheers Ranch of Yulee is offering a special experiential hands on learning “Experience” utilizing Natural Horsemanship. Through fun experiential equine activities, children build upon their natural strengths to enhance communication, problem-solving and social skills and increase self-confidence in a safe, educational and recreational atmosphere.

Parents and children are faced with many challenges today including peer pressure, bullying, poor grades, lack of self esteem, bouncing off the walls and lack of focus to name a few. The clinic will be held this Saturday from 9 am to 12 pm at the beautiful 24-acre campus of Cheers Ranch on 96841 Blackrock Rd., Yulee, FL. Space is limited and offered on a first come basis, the press release states.

Danielle Herb and her mother Marianne St. Clair of Drop Your Reins invite children and parents to gain a new perspective on life and their beliefs about what is possible when confronted with ADHD and Autism.

Sue Scheff: Drop Your Reins Event - Peaceful Solutions for ADHD/ADD & Autistic Children Using Natural Horsemanship

Drop Your Reins Presents Danielle Herb’s “The Experience”
at Cheer Horse Ranch - July 11, 2009

CHEER recognizes the challenges young people face as they mature in our society. There are demands on their time and focus that we’re not a part of growing up 20 years ago.

CHEER strives to guide the emotional development of our young friends through a healthy interaction with horses. By offering this interaction, CHEER will provide a foundation of life lessons aimed at allowing people to navigate their future with dignity, grace and caring.

CHEER has a mission and a goal to help manage growth and has an eye to create happy children and content horses .

We togther will utilize the unique human-equestrian interaction in a collarborative endeavor to enrich the emotional lives of our friends by:

*Teaching selflessness through caring of others
*Fostering self-confidence through nonjudgemental relationships
*Discovering self-reliance through doing
*Promoting self-esteem through healthy interdepedence
*Instilling pride through accomplishment
*Developing accountability through responsibility
*Encouraging enthusiasm for life through wholesome challenge
*Cultivating patience through understanding

Learn more and contact Danielle Herb at http://www.dropyourreins.com/about/

Don't forget to follow Danielle on Twitter @DanielleHerb and Cheers Horse Ranch @CheersRanch

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: Teen Gang Statistics

Today I Blogged on my main Blog - http://www.suescheffblog.com/ about Teen Gangs. Now that it is summer, parents need to be sure their kids are busy with constructive activities. Idle time can lead to trouble.

Read about Teen Gangs here: http://suescheffblog.com/2009/06/sue-scheff-teen-gangs/

Youth Gang Statistics

Youth gang activity is a significant problem in the United States. The following are statistics related to youth violence and gang activities:

•14 percent of teens are gang members (according to a survey in Denver)
•89 percent of serious violent crimes committed by teens were committed by gang members
•Gang members are 60 percent more likely to be killed
•The average age of a gang member is 17 to 18 years old
•25 percent of gang members are between the age of 15 and 17
•Police reports indicate that 6 percent of gang members are female and that 39 percent of gangs have female members

•Of female gang members:

◦78 percent have been in a gang fight
◦65 percent carry a weapon for protection
◦39 percent have attacked someone with a weapon
•Youth gang activity by area type:
◦72 percent of large cities
◦33 percent of small cities
◦56 percent of suburban counties
◦24 percent of rural counties
◦51 percent overall

•Youth gang activity by region:

◦74 percent in the West
◦52 percent in the Midwest
◦49 percent in the South
◦31 percent in the Northeast
◦51 percent overall

Click here for more.

Sue Scheff: ADHD Family Summit 2009

It’s not too late to sign up for the 2009 ADHD Family Summit. And now is a good time to do it because this Wednesday, June 17, at 9:00 p.m. Eastern (8:00 Central, 7:00 Mountain, and 6:00 Pacific) Edge Foundation Executive Director, Sarah Wright, will be talking about how coaching can help your ADHD teen be successful in school, at home and in life. Did we mention that it’s FREE?

The ADHD Family Summit is organized by Rory Stern, a passionate advocate in the ADHD community. The teleseminars will be held throughout June on Monday and Wednesday evenings at 9:00 pm Eastern, and include access to a 24-hour replay line for people who aren’t able to listen in live.

Learn more: click here.

Sue Scheff: Drop Your Reins - ADHD Program

Drop Your Reins – Learn to Trust
Peaceful Solutions for ADHD/ADD & Autistic Children Using Natural Horsemanship

Founded and run by Danielle Herb, Drop Your Reins is a holistic training school based in Live Oak, FL. From direct interaction with horses to supplemental training videos the program uses Natural Horsemanship For Kids helps guide the powerful minds of ADD/ADHD and Autistic children to reach their greatest potential while maintaining their innocence and purity.

Horses are amazing because they are sentient animals that mirror our personalities as well as our fears. –Danielle Herb

The old model of parenting and training horses, still being used by many today, is to break their spirit into submission to get them to do what you want. They are repeatedly worn down until the end result is unhappy, unhealthy kids and horses.

Are you curious about how horses can help humans learn to communicate more effectively, build inner self-esteem and outer confidence? By partnering with horses, we create an experiential learning environment that invites open communication, personal reflection, and increased self-awareness. Find out more about this “horse stuff” by joining us for a short, complimentary, introductory demonstration of this truly amazing learning process!

We begin each demo with introductions, to each other, to horse assisted learning and to horse behavior. Next, we partner with our four-legged friends to give you an opportunity to experience, first-hand, an on-the-ground (non riding) Drop Your Reins experience. Following the exercise with the horses, we take time “debrief” or talk – seeking to help identify assumptions and belief systems, increasing understanding and awareness. There’s also time to answer questions about how we can collaborate to help you reach your families development or personal growth goals.

Learn More here: http://dropyourreins.adsonvids.com.au/

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: Power Moms Unite

WHAT IS A POWER MOM?

Power Moms are moms working to successfully balance the needs of child, family, and self. Some work outside the home, balancing a career with the needs of their child, family and personal self. Other moms are working from home, managing families while managing a small home-based business or managing large families and a homeschool. There are a wide range of us- all power moms- looking to do our best at our many hats as mom- be that nuturer, coach, educator, cheerleader, psychologist, disciplinarian, party arranger, role-model, etc. The roles are vast and numerous, the balance often difficult to strike. This site hopes to empower these moms by providing timely, valuable and informative resources for celebrating family life and successfully managing ADHD.

Visit http://www.powermomsunite.com/ for more great articles, parenting tips, ideas and much more!

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: Power Moms Unite - Parenting ADHD

I love stumbling over great new parenting websites - and what a name - Power Moms Unite - Founder, Candace McLane offer a wide variety of articles, thoughts, tips, parenting resources and more on ADHD. As a mother of an ADHD son, I really enjoy this site. Check her Blog out too - great up to date info!

What is a Power Mom??

Power Moms are moms working to successfully balance the needs of child, family, and self. Some work outside the home, balancing a career with the needs of their child, family and personal self. Other moms are working from home, managing families while managing a small home-based business or managing large families and a homeschool. There are a wide range of us- all power moms- looking to do our best at our many hats as mom- be that nuturer, coach, educator, cheerleader, psychologist, disciplinarian, party arranger, role-model, etc. The roles are vast and numerous, the balance often difficult to strike. This site hopes to empower these moms by providing timely, valuable and informative resources for celebrating family life and successfully managing ADHD.

Sue Scheff: Parenting ADD/ADHD Children and Teens

Many parents have reservations about using prescription medication for ADD/ADHD children. I believe it is an individuals choice - and parents need options. Although I personally chose medication for my child, I know many parents that have had success with special diet programs such as the Feingold Program.

The Feingold Program (also known as the Feingold Diet) is a test to determine if certain foods or food additives are triggering particular symptoms. It is basically the way people used to eat before "hyperactivity" and "ADHD" became household words, and before asthma and chronic ear infections became so very common.

Learn more at www.feingold.org

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.

Sue Scheff - The Feingold Program and Diet - Holiday Goodie Basket

For parents of ADD/ADHD children, many have had tremendous success with the Feingold Program and Diet to help manage their kids. As the holidays are here, they are offering a fabulous goodie basket for your friends and family!

Learn more at www.feingold.org

Holiday Goodie Basket!

Support your Feingold Association and wow your friends!

A great assortment of all-natural, delicious treats in an attractive holiday gift baskets for you to enjoy or to give as gifts. For your $50 donation to FAUS, we will send a basket to the person of your choice.

We have gathered our favorite Stage One & Stage Two yummies from sources around the country and will be assembling attractive gift baskets to be shipped out via Priority Mail to the locations and at the time you choose. Look for brownies, cookies, jelly beans, gummy bears, lollipops, and many other goodies and snacks.

Wouldn't it be great if your relatives had lots of Feingold-acceptable treats on hand when you and your kids visit them? This is a wonderful way to introduce family, friends, neighbors and teachers to the Program, and to show them that "additive-free" means "delicious"!! Get several baskets for your friends, relatives, teachers, etc.

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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