ADD Student

Archive for January, 2008

I’ve been away from this site for a while, getting my new e-book “The Natural ADHD Diet” ready for release. I promise I’ll be back soon with some informative posts, as soon as I get some much needed sleep!

In the meantime, you might be interested in checking out The Natural ADHD Diet. For years, I’ve had parents ask me about treating the symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder without prescription medications. I’ve always told them that a combination of prescription medication and coaching is considered the best method of treating ADD .

Still, I know that some parents or people with AD/HD don’t want to use prescription drugs to manage their AD/HD. I started looking for an alternative method for them that would help minimize ADD symptoms naturally, and I’ve come up with one that I believe will work.

Actually, in doing the research, I realized that my family has used many of the suggestions in The Natural ADHD Diet for years; it was the way I raised my kids. By adding a few more things to our lifestyle, and modifying others (based on my recent research), I came up with a lifestyle plan that I personally find is working very well.

If you’re interested in finding out more, check out the website.

And if you decide to purchase The Natural ADHD Diet, I have a special introductory price until midnight, January 31, 2008.

Last night, I was out with some friends and we started talking about Attention Deficit Disorder.  One of the women in the group was someone I hadn’t met before, and she told me that she had a teen-ager with AD/HD.  She said that her child had always done somewhat poorly in school, especially in English, although reading and writing were favorite pasttimes.  That all changed, however, when her teen was given a chance to take advanced level classes.  The advanced level classes presented a welcome challenge for her child, and the result was much better grades. 

I find that this is often the case for children with Attention Deficit Disorder.  Poor grades can be the result of not paying attention or learning disabilities that accompany AD/HD, or other reasons, but sometimes kids with AD/HD just need a good challenge.  I find that in general, people with AD/HD have average to above average intelligence.  It’s not uncommon for boredom to be a prominent factor in poor grades.

Now I know that being bored is, in general, part of the average teenagers job description.  Sometimes, though, they really are being honest.  The classroom lectures bore them, or the homework isn’t challenging enough.  It’s up to you as a parent to decide if this is a legitimate complaint or just an excuse.

If you decide that they really aren’t being challenged enough, there are things you can do to help the situation.  Some depend on the school and the teacher, but others don’t.  Here are some ideas: 

•  Ask the teacher if there is a way to make the classwork or homework more challenging.  This will vary depending on the class.  For instance, with math it might be as simple as working ahead, but for English or history, it may be require something different.
• Another option is to utilize your child’s unique abilities to enhance everyone’s classroom experience.  For instance, a teacher once allowed my son to put together a website about Napoleon for extra credit in his history class.  It played into his strengths, and was something that all of the teacher’s classes could benefit from.
• Find ways at home to enhance what is being learned in class.  This isn’t easy, but worth it if you can manage it.  One of the easiest ways to do this is simply to ask questions – lots of them.  In essence, let your child teach you, if they’re willing.  It can not only help challenge your child, but it will also help them realize how much they’ve learned, what they need to work on, and reinforce all of it.
• Depending on how old they are, you can also consider helping them prepare for college. Even a very bright middle school aged child might be a good candidate for this.   CLEP and DANTES tests allow you the ability to test out of certain college level classes, and they are accepted at most colleges and universities across the country, including Harvard.  Basically, you study on your own for the test you have selected.  You take the test at an authorized testing center, and if you pass, you will receive college credit for that class.  Each college has a list of what tests correspond to their classes, and some are pretty universal, so they will apply for most schools.  If you need more information, let me know.
• Finally, simply acknowledging your child’s intelligence and resulting boredom can sometimes help.  It may mean much more than you expect for you to recognize your child’s intelligence.  Give it a try and see what happens.

I’ve been seeing lots of lists around lately – you know the kind –  the top 10 movies of 2007, the 25 best health tips, or even the 10 dumbest celebrities.  Anyway, I thought I would make a list of my own – about Attention Deficit Disorder, of course.  So, here it is: 5 Random Tips for Managing AD/HD 

1.  Get some natural light every day, preferably at least 15 minutes.  This is especially helpful in the shorter, darker months of the year. By the way, getting natural light means going outside to get it; it doesn’t count if it comes through the window.
2. Use the energy of the new year and new beginnings to start fresh with something.  Clear out a backpack so it feels shiny, brand new, and clean, or start a fresh page with a new dayplanner.  Clear out your desk, or just one drawer. Don’t get carried away – people with ADD do that – pick something small and manageable and just do that.
3. Start a new habit of the month.  Pick one ADD symptom that you would like to improve, make a plan (remember, manageable), and then work on it for the whole month.  How about in January you add in an extra 10 minutes to whatever it is you’re planning to do?  Does the trip to school take 15 minutes?  Allow for 25.  Need an hour for homework?  Plan on an hour and ten minutes.  If you need the extra time, you’ll have it, and if you don’t, you can experience what not being rushed and/or late feels like – a rare treat for someone with AD/HD.
4. Drink more water.  I don’t know if there is any proof that it helps ADD, but it’s good for everybody, and you know you don’t drink enough.  By the way – I have a personal theory that being properly hydrated does help brain function, but it is just that – my personal theory, and I’m just a mom, not a scientist.
5. Put more good stuff in and you’ll get more good stuff out.  Again, I’m just a mom (see above), but it just makes sense.  One of my resolutions has been to lose weight (a real shocker, I know), and it occurred to me the other day that my body would work better, feel better, and be better if I gave it what it needed instead of what I thought I wanted (like M & M’s).  Would you plant a beautiful rose bush and then water it with Diet Coke?  Of course not, and if you did , would you be surprised if it didn’t grow?  The same is true of your body, your child’s body, anybody’s body.  Take the time and care to feed your family good food and you’ll all be the better for it.