Is your child hyeractive?
Does your child struggle with social problems?
Are you frustrated or embarrassed by your child’s behavior?
ADHD refers to attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder. Most children who suffer from this disorder suffer from attention problems as well as hyperactivity. Parents of such children are well aware that inattention and hyperactivity continue throughout the day. Keeping such children busy after school hours can be as difficult as keeping them safe during the school day.
The first step while choosing the right after school activity for your child is to understand how ADHD affects him. Is your child interested in sports? Is he put off by the fierce competitiveness, or does he find it hard to get along with teammates? Does your child vocalize his feelings, or is communication a problem?
For a child suffering from ADHD, physical exercise is always beneficial. Exercise takes up the extra energy and helps to stimulate the brain. Team activities teach social skills and discipline. But, if your child shies away from team sports, you may want to look at activities like dancing, cycling, swimming or gymnastics. Martial arts not only teach techniques of self-defense but also teach self-control and patience.
If your child shows aversion to sport and shows inclination towards the fine arts, you may need to look at some other options. Acting classes are a wonderful form of creative exercise. It also provides the child with ample opportunity to develop his social skills. Music, art or dance can help the child to keep himself busy and entertained.
In case the child is not interested in any of the above, you may want him to join a Boy Scouts club or other community oriented clubs that take up social work. Cleaning a park, putting on a show, helping out in an old age home are various activities that may pique your child’s interest.
Whatever form of activity you choose, make sure that you monitor your child’s progress periodically. If you feel that there is no progress, you may need to change the activity. Anything that increases your child’s self-esteem is good. You may enlist the help of the coach or teacher to assess your child’s development.
There are certain activities that are detrimental to a child suffering from ADHD. Computer and video games are a definite NO. Since these games need no interaction, children will feel all the more isolated. These children also find it difficult to distinguish between the good and the bad messages. They may therefore show an inclination to stick to messages that are not needed. Games that need the child to sit and wait for his turn patiently tax his patience and will not be a success.
Although you would want these children to be as near to normal as possible, understanding their needs and limits will help you select the right after school activity – one that is fulfilling, tiring as well as challenging.
from freearticles.com
There has been much excitement suiudrnorng the recent positive developments for neurofeedback (EEG-biofeedback) for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In the past week, news circulated that American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) endorsed neurofeedback for ADHD. Although I was also excited about this potentially important development for the field of neurofeedback and children with attentional disorders and posted an article to this effect, I found no evidence in AAP’s original announcement that Level 2 (“good evidence”) recommendations applied to neurofeedback.
Nice article.I think the take-home megsase is for parents to examine what role refined carbohydrates plays in their diets (this should be emphasized more – consider that latte with whipped topping) and the diets of their children.Polished (‘refined’) foods cause an unnatural spike in blood factors. The cumulative effect of this on the brain and other organisms is wholly negative. Placating a high-energy child by feeding them candy does all kinds of wrong, from condoning their hyperactivity to degrading brain and other organ function.One major toxin not mentioned in the article, though likewise concerning, is trans fatty acids, or what we commonly refer to as “trans fats”. The scientific community revealed essentially beyond doubt that these buggers cause coronary artery disease (and possibly cancer, diabetes, and more).Trans fats are made through an unnatural process called hydrogenation, which stabilizes fatty acid chains, allowing foods to have a longer shelf life. Suffice to say, the way hydrogenation alters molecules changes the way the body handles such fats. Trans fats are entirely unnecessary in the diet, no quantity is good or safe.To spot a trans fat, look for the words “partially hydrogenated” or simply “hydrogenated” in the ingredient list of any food item. Keep in mind that many products that claim to be “trans fat free” actually do contain trans fats. They get away with this seeming false advertising by having just a small amount in their product. The butter substitute “Brummel & Brown” is an example. On the label you’ll find a reported amount of 0g trans fats. Yet in the ingredient list you’ll see that buzzword ‘hydrogenated’. In my opinion these substances are just too dangerous to consider
It is very important to see that evidence does matter. Neurofeedback will be an important way for people to train the brain for focus even without a symptom. I noted the Canadian Olympic team built a Mind Roomusing neurofeedback and other tension reduction methods. It’s good to see a door open to other alternative ways of training the brain.Andrea schara