ADD Student

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I remember when my son, Andy, was first diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder. He was crushed, and I struggled for a way to explain it to him that made sense and didn’t make him feel bad about himself.

Children’s author and psychotherapist Kara T. Tamanini has written a wonderful new book called “Understanding My Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder” that helps parents explain ADHD to their children.

In it, she tells a story about a little boy named Tommy, who has ADHD. He is feeling pretty bad about himself until he meets the owner of the Toy Store, Mr. Timmons. Mr. Timmons tells Tommy a story about another little boy very much like him who was always getting into trouble, too.

This book helps children understand ADHD symptoms and learn more about themselves. Here’s a quote from the press release:

Tamanini takes a sensitive and often painful subject, for both children and adults, and
weaves it into a valuable learning tool. Her book is a must-have for parents and children
who are experiencing the mysteries of ADHD.

This book got excellent reviews from customers on Amazon. Here’s what Dr. Abraham had to say:

As a clinical psychologist who works with ADHD clients, I have found this book an excellent primer for parents and their kids, especially those who have been newly diagnosed with this condition. The book skillfully brings awareness of the many traits of ADHD all the while painting a picture of hope that this is a highly treatable condition. I highly recommend this book to my clients and to anyone who might be facing this specific challenge.

Here is a list of places where you can buy Kara’s book:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Books A Million

Last night, my good friend Cara from The Household Helper had a seminar about organizing your home. There were several questions about getting your kids (and your husband!) organized and Cara had some great answers.

As you know, organization is something that people with Attention Deficit Disorder really struggle with. Being well organized and having a system that works for you can make a huge difference in your life.

Cara’s ideas weren’t specific to ADHD, but I think they were good ones just the same. Here are two of them (and she applied them equally to kids and husbands):

Cara is big on to-do lists. She thinks that there is a real sense of satisfaction and accomplishment that comes from crossing things off a list. She also believes that it is more emotionally satisfying done on paper than a computer. She suggests a chore chart for kids, broken down very simply. “Clean your room.” is too broad. Instead, use “Put dirty clothes in hamper” and “Make your bed”.

She says the same idea is good for husbands – presented a little differently, of course. She says that often husbands would be more willing to help out if they knew what to do. A “honey do” list tells them how they can help and Cara says it enlists more cooperation than asking or telling.

Cara’s other idea is about containers, and I think it’s a great one. Provide containers for everything you can think of. (Hint: get an idea of what you’re storing before you buy the container, so that it’s the right size. Make it attractive, too.)

Cara has a small bowl for her husband’s keys, wallet and change on the dresser in the bedroom. Papers that the kids bring home from school are placed in a “in box” on the kitchen counter. Things are easily accessiible and easy to see, but still neat. I like this idea a lot!

If you’re interested in more of Cara’s ideas, she has a special now. If you purchase her book “The Household Helper’s Guide to Home Organization” for $8.97, she will add “Organizing the Kids” for free! If you’d like to know more, just click the image below.

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 ADHD. 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. (By the way, it’s also a great complement to medication.)

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’ve come 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.