Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post

genuinegirly · 03-07-2008, 08:37 AM

Maybe she just needs a different learning environment. Perhaps there's nothing wrong with your daughter (yes, she has ADD, but is that really wrong??), but the learning environment just isn't for her.

I'm sorry if there are some die-hard Montessori supporters out there, but not every 4 year old is capable of succeding in this environment. Some require more attention and structure. Especially children who cannot create their own structure - they need someone to show them what it's like to focus.

By choosing not to medicate your child, you will always deal with the fact that most primary school teachers are not educated on how to keep healthy, unmedicated ADD/ ADHD children in line. This means you'll have to take a more active role. If she's diagnosed ADD/ ADHD by a physician, great! Start talking with the disability folks in your school district and learn what your rights are. You're under no obligation to medicate your child, no matter how many times her teachers ask you to do it. You will have to push for your child's rights.

I've seen and heard about lots of work-arounds. From things as minor as sending the child to grab a book or otherwise move every 10 minutes, to using a yoga ball as a chair, to keep them moving, using exciting interactive pens, and focusing in on readings and lectures by drawing pictures while everyone else pays attention in other ways. I've also heard the alternatives of these, including offering them no distractions, plain pencils, boring reading, and just asking them to tap their foot at any and all times.

My sister was diagnosed at age 17. She chose to take the medications only long enough to graduate high school. She went off them after finals. She learned that she could focus better with them, but she lost a part of her personality. She did fine in her college courses without medication, partially because she knew what it was like to be medicated and actively wanted to avoid it.

By choosing to medicate a child at a young age, they never know the energetic part of themselves, they never learn to work with it.

03-07-2008, 08:37 AM	#17 (permalink)
genuinegirly Eat your vegetables Super Moderator Location: Arabidopsis-ville	Maybe she just needs a different learning environment. Perhaps there's nothing wrong with your daughter (yes, she has ADD, but is that really wrong??), but the learning environment just isn't for her. I'm sorry if there are some die-hard Montessori supporters out there, but not every 4 year old is capable of succeding in this environment. Some require more attention and structure. Especially children who cannot create their own structure - they need someone to show them what it's like to focus. By choosing not to medicate your child, you will always deal with the fact that most primary school teachers are not educated on how to keep healthy, unmedicated ADD/ ADHD children in line. This means you'll have to take a more active role. If she's diagnosed ADD/ ADHD by a physician, great! Start talking with the disability folks in your school district and learn what your rights are. You're under no obligation to medicate your child, no matter how many times her teachers ask you to do it. You will have to push for your child's rights. I've seen and heard about lots of work-arounds. From things as minor as sending the child to grab a book or otherwise move every 10 minutes, to using a yoga ball as a chair, to keep them moving, using exciting interactive pens, and focusing in on readings and lectures by drawing pictures while everyone else pays attention in other ways. I've also heard the alternatives of these, including offering them no distractions, plain pencils, boring reading, and just asking them to tap their foot at any and all times. My sister was diagnosed at age 17. She chose to take the medications only long enough to graduate high school. She went off them after finals. She learned that she could focus better with them, but she lost a part of her personality. She did fine in her college courses without medication, partially because she knew what it was like to be medicated and actively wanted to avoid it. By choosing to medicate a child at a young age, they never know the energetic part of themselves, they never learn to work with it. __________________ "Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq "violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy Last edited by genuinegirly; 03-07-2008 at 08:43 AM.. Reason: typos