Age group(s) for which this technique is helpful:
Preschool and Younger
Elementary School
Middle School
High School & Beyond

Primarily used to improve behavior:
Both At Home and At School

Instructions for using this technique:
Contrary to popular belief, ADHD is a genetic disorder. You may see symptoms in yourself or maybe you exhibited them as a child. There are a lot of children that grow out of ADHD. This is not always something they will have for life. By trying all the different natural remedies and switching medications all the time, talking to people in front of your child about your child's ADHD, putting them in special schools or programs, and treating them like they are disabled, you may be permanently damaging your child's self-esteem. Part of the problem with children with ADHD is they are put under a tremendous amount of pressure to conform to the norms of society. They are often told they have a learning disablity, put in separate classrooms, and made to feel like they have a problem. Think about this? Your children just want your approval and they get very frustrated when they are unable to do what you want them to do. Has anyone taken the time to think about why so many people have ADHD, people are different and that is just how some people are. Just like some people are excessively organized and do what is considered correct. Most schools only teach in a strict format, and do not take into consideration the fact that children learn in different ways. Most of you need to learn about Multiple Intelligences. Teachers need to teach subjects in more than one way, they can use visul, media, art, or music to go along with the text. Reading about MOMA's visual thinking curriculum may also be helpful. If many of you have not already noticed, your child is good at certain subjects, just as you are. Children with ADHD are often more artistically inclined, and math is usually their downfall. It's not that they are bad at math, they just don't know how to do math because they are having difficulty learning in the way that it is taught to them. I do not think that children should be put in a separate classroom, that makes them feel different and bad about themselves and it leads to low self-esteem. When a child has low self esteem and they are told they are not good at something, and all their bad qualities are always being pointed out to them, they won't want to try harder. Montessori schools do have the curriculum that children with ADHD need, but if at all possible try to find one that does not cater to children with learning disabilities. Many public schools are going this route for a number of reasons and all children can do well in this type of school environment. All the therapy, herbal supplements, and just plain weird ideas are just making your child feel more down about themselves. You may not think that they feel bad that they cannot be organized, on time, pay attention, and so on, but they recognise their own behavior and trust me they feel bad enough about it without their parents adding to their burden. Your children are not lab rats, try to be consistant if you are going to put them on medication keep them on it, unless it causes health problems or is just not working. If you are constantly changing medication or treatment methods, then that's kind of like ADHD, inconsistant and all over the place. If their bodies have to constantly try to adjust to new medications, that could be the cause of some behavior and physical symptoms. I know all of this because I am a mother with ADHD and yes I take medication. Why is this? Because when I was younger, my condition was never diagnosed, I was always berated for all of my shortcomings, and I felt different and stupid because I just did not get math or reading like other children. I was only diagnosed a year ago, and ADHD has been a self esteem issue my whole life. No one can understand what you feel like. My husband cannot understand why I start projects and don't finish them, why I have a tendency to be disorganized, why I am always late. I was never hyper, not all kids are off the wall. But I do have a million thoughts running through my head at one time. So far I don't really think medication is doing that great of a job. I think that thinking positively and trying to find ways that work for me are the most effective. Your children can succeed in life you just need to provide a good foundation. I know so many parents get so frustrated with their children and keep wondering what is wrong with them and why they are like this. They are who they are, there is no magical cure to make them super organized, straight A, model students. We as humans created our civilization and the concepts of math, time, and structure. Some of us just have not evolved mentally as others to adjust to these changes. Do you think the cave man had to worry about being to the PTA meeting on time, or shuttling their children to a dozen places, or any number of the things that we constantly multi-task. I always have about 20 things that I want to do at one time, I cannot focus on one. This is the way your children are, it's not that they do not want to do them.

Other information parents should consider before using this technique:
Counseling for yourselves to help you overcome wanting perfection in your children, and accepting them as they are.