Learning Disabilities: ADD/ADHD

Is your child's teacher phoning you to say the class is being disrupted by your child?

When this happens how do you feel? And more importantly how do you react and talk to your child? Children pick up the stress you feel even if you are trying to be calm.

How can you help?

First of all take a breath and see if you see some of yourself in your child's behavior. Can you understand the frustration they feel? You can help by asking your child to explain their side of the situation. Remember to remain silent. The stress you feel will be felt by your child. Take time to relax. Realize that stressing out will not help your child. Surround your child with loving thoughts.

Talking to your child is so important. Most of the talking should be you listening. Find out how they are feeling. What got them going in class? What subject were they working on? It can give you a clue if the frustration starts with reading or with math problems. Say something simple like: "Tell me more" or "I have often felt like that too". Let your child know they can talk to you in confidence and you will not judge.

How are you feeling?

Do you take the teacher's comments personally? Do you believe the teacher is right and your child is wrong? Or the other way around? Are you feeling like your child's behavior is your fault? There is nothing helpful in playing the blame game or judging.

When the teacher phones home to let you know your child has been disruptive or suspended listen carefully. Find out what happened. Then you will be able to listen to both sides of the situation.

ONE TECHNIQUE I have used and found successful is to take a piece of paper and write at the top:

SOLUTIONS FOR THIS PROBLEM

Then have your child either write down possible solutions that they think of themselves or you can write them down as the child comes up with ideas. Discuss the ideas.

Then write down: THE BEST SOLUTION

I have found the power is in the writing down of the ideas. I have seen nasty arguments between children solved very quickly and painlessly using this technique.

Then have your child either write down possible solutions that they think of themselves or you can write them down as the child comes up with ideas. Discuss the ideas.

Then write down: THE BEST SOLUTION

I have found the power is in the writing down of the ideas. I have seen nasty arguments between children solved very quickly and painlessly using this technique.

My son's graduation June 2009!!

My son was so excited to start school. He is the youngest of three boys. By the time he started kindergarten, he had already spent many hours at school with his brothers because I was often volunteering at the school.

Unfortunately, after the fun in kindergarten, the hard work of grade one began. He often had headaches - mainly to avoid going to school. By the time he arrived in grade four he was behind in reading and struggling with school work. This pattern continued and he received extra tutoring outside of school. During his intermediate school years, grades 5 to 8, he was totally disorganized and fooling around a way too much in class.

At the beginning of grade 9, I started him on a herbal supplementation program and improved his nutrition. It did take a few months to notice a difference, but gradually he was able to settle down in class, be more focused and more organized.

Grade 10 became his banner year. From failing grades he was on the Honour Roll the entire year. Grade 11 and 12 have gone by smoothly and the third report in grade 12 he was again on the Honour Roll.

Final grade 12 report:

He was again on the Honour Roll and also received a Merit Award and scholarships for College.

NOW HE'S GRADUATING!!

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