| Teaching a child with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) | | | | environment, your child should attend a school that |
| can be a difficult task. Many schools have identified the | | | | understands the effectiveness of working together |
| problem and addressed the issue because substantial | | | | with parents, taking stock of your particular |
| developments have been made to recognize the | | | | circumstances and respecting your decisions. |
| problem. However there are still some schools lagging | | | | Regrettably some schools lack this open-mindedness. |
| behind. Unfortunately these schools are not well placed | | | | Communities that are small and financially |
| to help individuals diagnosed with ADD. | | | | disadvantaged (compared to other communities), have |
| The way ADD influences a classroom is observed | | | | the habit of being far too conservative and are often |
| well before any individual diagnosis is completed. It may | | | | not able (or willing) to cater for children who have |
| be observed (for example) in a boy, following his | | | | special needs. |
| classmates to snatch their books, or in a young girl | | | | ADD often makes children difficult to instruct . . . |
| sitting in the corner and playing with her hair, with her | | | | generally they are chaotic and difficult to control. For |
| mind focused somewhere else. It is usually the teacher | | | | these reasons many schools refuse to accommodate |
| who first recognizes that a student is having difficulty | | | | such unruly children. Nonetheless, you need to ensure |
| focusing on class activities. However identifying the | | | | your child is not treated as a second-class citizen. |
| problem is just the first step, and the most difficult part | | | | There are certain schools who will very promptly |
| is changing the inattentive or hyperactive attitude. | | | | strive to put the child with the disorder in corrective |
| Treatment of the disorder starts when everyone | | | | classes, even if the child's level of intelligence is not |
| acknowledges it and a diagnosis is carried out. It's | | | | suitable to that form of action. In many cases, this step |
| important to decide whether medical intervention is | | | | is taken so as not to disrupt normal class schedules |
| required, since that would determine a course of | | | | and other children. However, as a parent, you should |
| treatment. There are a number of schools, which quite | | | | not accept an unjustified negative categorization of |
| inhumanly emphasize that the child suffering from ADD | | | | your child. |
| be given medicines. Some schools though, take a | | | | Finally remember that as parents it's essential that your |
| more logical approach and comply with the wishes of | | | | child knows you are always there for him or her. If any |
| the child's parents. | | | | decision taken by the Class Teacher or School |
| Whether your child is able to cope with the situation will | | | | Principal disadvantages the well-being of your child, you |
| often be determined by the type of school he or she | | | | should discuss it with them and come-up with a plan |
| attends and how proactive they are. In an ideal | | | | that ensures the very best outcomes for your child. |