Dr. Laura's suggestion for a Christmas gift

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Dr. Laura's suggestion for a Christmas gift
Topic Started: Dec 23 2007, 09:56 AM (419 Views)
Post #1 Dec 23 2007, 09:56 AM	eye95
Again, I'll let Dr. Laura make her main point about the best gift you can give your kid is you. I just wanted to focus on her aside that ADD and ADHD are mostly "kids being kids." I have used these exact words. My experience over the past decade or so is that the diagnosis is exploding, not because we are any smarter in diagnosing, not because there is some growing, intrinsic problem with our kids, and certainly not because parents are any more concerned with their children's well-being, but because we are building more disruptive and less well-behaved students and because drugs do indeed--let's not say "help," but instead, say--get these kids the heck outta the way of the kids who are trying to learn. The drugs cut down on parent conferences. The drugs do raise the grades. All of that notwithstanding, I am convinced that better rearing skills and more time devoted to applying those skills would accomplish these goals much more effectively--without doping a generation. So, give that gift that the good doctor recommends. It's the right thing to do.	Administrator Posts: 2,647 Group: Editor-in-Chief Member #1 Joined: December 11, 2005



Post #2 Dec 23 2007, 11:08 AM	CT-95
In my coaching experience, when for any reason kids are off their medicine for ADD, ADHD, I can usually get them to function better when they know 1) they will get much MORE attention by doing what is asked 2) there will be significant consequences for misbehavior and 3) I care about them. We are all born with desires to do things that may not be appropriate. If we can not be taught to no longer desire the behavior, we need to be taught to have the self control to not act on it. Drugging kids does neither. It is a shortsighted solution that works only as long as the medicine does and can't be healthy for developing minds and bodies either.	Civil Servant Posts: 556 Group: Editor Member #34 Joined: March 25, 2006



Post #3 Dec 23 2007, 11:35 AM	eye95
Very true. Unfortunately, the only real downside to our new management at the school at which I teach is the willingness to hand out the advice to give the kid drugs. Besides being bad advice (IMNTBHO) in most cases, any teacher/administrator/coach giving such advice runs the risk of legal trouble! He can be sued, and, worse, he can be charged with practicing medicine without a license. The most a teacher should ever say (and I never have) is, "Have you had your child evaluated by a doctor? He might be able to explain your child's behavior and recommend a course of action." Other than that, we teachers need to shut up about any specific kid and their need for drugs! I always recommend strategies. You named a few good ones.	Administrator Posts: 2,647 Group: Editor-in-Chief Member #1 Joined: December 11, 2005



Post #4 Dec 23 2007, 02:38 PM	Goofball
Raising a child to mind, behave and respect others is what needs to be done. And get them off sugar and artificial coloring - feed them a wholesome, well-balanced diet. As Dr. L says, she would have been diagnosed with ADHD as a kid - she was very active. I could have been also. But it's just kids being rambunctious - it's not a bad thing. I wish I still had the energy I had as a kid. My energy wasn't sugar induced - my mom feed us well with whole wheat bread sandwiches, no soda pop, no chips, etc. Cookies and cake was a very special treat in our house. All the various private schools my daughter went to didn't allow sugar during the week. Those were well behaved kids.	Civil Servant Posts: 623 Group: Full Members Member #409 Joined: June 27, 2007



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