ADD/ADHD: Things Can Change

Hints

My first-grade teaching experience had taught me many small teaching tricks. I rewarded JB with his favorite Feingold-compatible foods and gave him verbal rewards, which were extremely important. I made games requiring words, action, and reading. We had bridges of words over rhyming words, and matching words to put on furniture or colored objects. Learning was as full of action and fun as possible.

JB regained much of his health and confidence in the two months school was out, so he went home and accompanied his mom on a long road trip. I gave JB special easy-to-read books -- he loved Dr. Seuss -- and so for two weeks he alternated reading with enjoying the passing sights. JB was at second grade reading level by fall. Second grade levels, confidence, self-worth, smiles, and love -- it was so special to see!

My grandson is now 23 years old and is a sincere, likeable young man with plans to go into the recording business. He sings and plays the guitar and has learned to tile sculpt and to paint.

"Put their energy to work in developing a talented child because they are."

I went back into teaching, a mornings-only job with 22 first graders in a private school. In my classroom I had four ADD/adhd children some had thought unteachable. I used the methods with them I had used with JB. With active games I taught new words daily, trying to use every word up to 100 times that day. The kids were reading, behaving, their anger was gone, and they felt good about themselves. I don't have much sympathy for teachers who say we can't help these children because they can learn, they can behave.

Advice

Everyone around a child afflicted with ADD/ADHD suffers, but things can change. Such children can be our most inventive, bright young people if given the chance.

Wake up, parents! Stop the junk foods. Learn natural ways. Be patient. Stop punishing the kids for things they find so hard to control. Schools that set up detention instead of teaching are setting up failures. Get these children in activities that require physical movement, put their energy to work in developing a talented child because they are.

The member story above may have been edited for clarity.

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