My husband and I have seven children. Our three youngest are adopted and are considered to have special needs. Two have been diagnosed as ADHD, and should I allow anyone to evaluate him, our youngest would most certainly receive the same title!

To give a diagnosis of ADHD
a child presents with six or more of the following symptoms, and they must have persisted for 6 months or more:

• making careless mistakes
• difficulty sustaining attention
• problems with listening
• failure to finish schoolwork or chores
• difficulties organizing
• trouble sustaining mental efforts
• losing things
• being easily distracted
• forgetfulness
• fidgeting/squirming
• trouble staying seated
• inappropriate running/climbing
• difficulty playing quietly
• being on the go/driven
• talking excessively
• blurting out answers
• difficulty awaiting turn
• often interrupting

Anything sound familiar?
I have come to appreciate that most of what is listed above is "childhood!" It's just that the behaviors do not lend themselves well to a classroom packed with 35 children. Some children can adjust to the fact that they are going to be sitting in a chair, basically ignored, for 6 hours a day. They turn off their creativity, spontaneity, curiosity, and natural love of learning to comply with what is expected of them. They, in fact, become institutionalized. Other children, however, cannot adjust and, as I see it, "dance to the beat of their OWN drum." As these children do not conform they must be labeled and given some type of treatment. Unfortunately, this is most often medication which will "help" the child to turn off their creativity, spontaneity, curiosity, and natural love of learning , and in fact assist them in becoming as institutionalized as their classmates.

Home is the ideal setting
for these children

• I teach my 11 year old in 15 minute segments, alternating with 15 minutes for her to run, play, or whatever she feels a need to do. She does much of her learning standing up or laying on the floor! Sitting in a chair somehow magically turns off her "thinking cap." I follow her lead---if she is interested in horses, we study horses. If she is interested in space travel---we study space travel. Get the picture?? Math, reading, history, science, art----all can be adapted to revolve around any subject!
• My five year old can't sit still to learn phonics---but he LOVES to run around the house hunting for the letter cards that I have hidden. He gets one point if he knows the letter, two points if he knows the letter and it's sound---(as he counts up his points we are doing math!)
• I have taught my children how to recognize when they need to give themselves a "time-out." They now recognize when they are "hyper" and need to calm down. Each has their own way; Annie reads, Chelsea wraps herself in her favorite blanket, and Stephen watches a video. As homeschoolers we are in a unique position to give our children the tools they need to be able to help themselves.
• The most important thing to remember when teaching an active child is to be creative. There are lots of ways to learn and sitting at a desk or table is only one of them. Make sure your active child has plenty of opportunities to participate in sports. Praise your child's efforts and accomplishments in order that he will feel good about himself. And, remember---your child will grow up! And, if you help him now by allowing him to learn in the way that works best, he will be ready to take responsibility for himself and will know how to direct his life.

Meet the Authors
Mariaemma Willis, M.S.
& Victoria Kindle Hodson, M.A.
"Discover Your Child's Learning Style"
hosted by Joe Spataro
Interview & FREE Excerpt
This book honors and celebrates the unique learning styles of all children. The authors discuss their ideas on ADD, ADHD, dyslexia, homeschooling, afterschooling as well as an easy to follow way to assess your child. The book contains a step-by-step program of self awareness test that guide you to a better understanding of your child’s unique strengths and weaknesses.

Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons
Homeschool Your Child for FREE
more Curriculum Guides
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Meet the Author
James D. Sutton, EdD, CSP
author of "If My Kid’s So Nice…
Why Is He Driving Me Crazy?"
hosted by Joe Spataro
with a FREE excerpt Chap7: The "Quick Fix"
He speaks to us about a variant on ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder) called the "The Good Kid Disorder." As an educator, he has taught everything from grade school to graduate school. His interest in working with emotionally troubled youngsters motivated him to earn a doctorate in psychology. Today, Dr. Sutton addresses the needs of young people as a consulting psychologist, an author, and an accomplished speaker. Find out more.

Straight Talk About Psychiatric Medications for Kids
by Timothy E. Wilens

Psychiatric medications are being used with increasing confidence to treat a variety of child and adolescent disorders, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and Tourette syndrome. For parents, however, deciding whether to allow a child to take medication for an emotional or behavioral problem may be one of the toughest choices they will ever face. When a son or daughter needs help, parents need more than a brief medical consultation--and more than a prescription slip.

Think Fast! : The ADD Experience
by Janie Bowman

also see Janie's essay,
The Gifts of Homeschooling
Expert information on treatment plus the real-life everyday experiences of people with Attention Deficit Disorder presented in a format that can be read cover to cover or scanned for specific topics. This unique book is the first collection of expert opinions on ADD presented along with the experiences of ADD people from around the world.