Dealing With Attention Deficit Disorder In Young Children
Teachers and parents have their hands full these days with all the children with ADD. Attention deficit disorder in young children can hinder them from being able to focus, they act out, and they become little monsters. What can be done if your child has attention deficit disorder? Should you just throw your hands up in the air in surrender as you've wanted to do so many times? Of course not. If you're a parent or a teacher and you're dealing with attention deficit disorder in young children, it's your job to listen to their needs, to see what's really going on. Then, it's up to you to find a solution so that they can go on to lead healthy adult lives.
Teachers
Teachers dealing with attention deficit disorder in young children really have a difficult task because it's up to you to talk to the family members who are raising these kids. The kids may be exhibiting the normal symptoms of attention deficit disorder in children but there may be something bigger going on. They may be having troubles at home. Are their parents constantly fighting or going through a divorce? Is there an abuse situation going on? Or are the parents just bad parents? It's up to you, if just to make your job easier, to talk to the parents or family members raising the child to determine if the child is really affected by ADD and, if so, then it's up to all of you to try and get help for the child.
Parents
If you suspect that your child has ADD, then it's up to you to find out what caused it and how to treat it. Attention deficit disorder in young children could be caused by poor diet and lack of exercise. You should try to remedy these factors first. Try teaching your child to make good food choices and to get some exercise. Encourage them to take martial arts or to get on the baseball team at school. Find out what they're interested in. They just might be extremely bored with no outlet for their energy and/or creativity. Attention deficit disorder in young children is too often treated by medication. There has to be another way.
If Nothing Else Works
If you've done all you can for your child, or for your children if you're a teacher, and nothing has worked, then it may be time to take your child to a doctor. The doctor will perform tests to determine if the child is affected. If the child has ADD, then it may be necessary to seek treatment. However, don't rush to put your child on medication. Attention deficit disorder in young children is increasing at a rapid pace, it's become an epidemic, and there has to be a reason. Something must have changed in the last decade or so for this disorder to be so prevalent in our children. Find out what that thing is; whether it's lack of exercise, poor diet, lack of an outlet, or whatever else it may be. That's your job as a teacher and/or a parent and the child deserves every chance to lead a normal life.
