It should come as no surprise to you that many people are said to have ADD or ADHD, and while I do believe some really do have it, I also believe many are incorrectly diagnosed. See, we send our kids to school, we get complaints back from the teachers that our children are too hyper at school and that they think they need some sort of medicine to keep them calm.
I would like to add it is not at all the teacher’s fault they have a job, and it is to keep our children safe and teach them what they need to know to move on to the next grade. However, it is the school system's fault that we have so many children that are on drugs like Ritalin. Maybe the fault is the wrong word because, to me, fault should only be used when someone did something intentionally wrong.
In any case, what do I mean that it is the school system's fault? Well, think about it for a minute. As an adult, do you like going to work and sitting at a desk for 8 hours a day with hardly any interaction with the outside world? Of course, you do not like it, and if you do, then that is great for you, but I bet most do not.
So, put yourself in your child’s place before you start thinking about medicines to put him or her on. What do children have? They have energy, and the way my kids are, I feel as though they suck the energy right out of their father and me. Like seriously, I think they have an IV in us somehow, and it sucks all the energy out of us and goes straight to them, but I would not have it any other way.
Anyways, kids have the energy it really is just part of being a child. I bet when you were a kid, you had energy as well even though you may not remember, I am sure you did. It is all part of being a child. With that being said, what has the school system done?
Well, think back to when you were a child; what was the favorite part of your day? Mine was recess. I did not have to do any work, and I could just be a kid. Recess and gym were some great times. Those times are all but gone now. Kids do not have much of a recess if any at all, and now there is talk of taking the gym completely away.
With that being said, how are these ball full of energy kids supposed to sit all day at school if they have no way to expel their energy? They literally are sitting for 8 hours a day doing nothing but school work.
If you search hard enough, you will find that back in the day, and I mean back in the ’40s when kids first got to school, they had an hour of recess. After that, they did school work for 3 or 4 hours and then had an hour to 2-hour lunch/recess break. Next, they would do school work for an hour or so, then before leaving, they would have another recess break. Then most kids would walk home from school and do chores around the house before going to bed. Yes, I said, walk! They walked to school, and they walked home from school.
So, why is it we went generations without hearing the words ADD or ADHD? It is because kids actually were able to get their energy out during the day. There was no bus that came and picked them up, they walked. They did not just go home and play video games, they worked. The school was not just a time to learn, they played. I could go on, but I think you get my point.
I would like to repeat myself by saying I know there are some true cases of ADD and ADHD, and I do know the difference. However, I do believe many are misdiagnosed, and before someone tells you that your child needs to sit still during school hours and they suggest some sort of medicine, I urge you to ask the question, how active are they at school?
I bet if you ask that one question, you will find that your child is sitting doing school work for 90-95% of their day. How do you expect your child to sit still for 8 hours a day when you have trouble as an adult going to work and working at a desk for 8 hours a day?
How do you keep your child to sit still during the day at school? Obviously, the school system is not going to do it, so it falls on you as the parent. My suggestion is to wake your child up 2 or 3 hours before going to school, and yes, I know that could mean 4 in the morning. Make them exercise and allow them to be kids. Then send them off to school. If you do this, I bet your child will be able to sit for the rest of the day and be more attentive to his or her school work.
Make them tired before going to bed. Make your child do chores around the house. Believe me, your house can never be too clean. Make them go outside and play. Limit their use of electronics and make them exercise outside. This will allow them to be so tired before they go to bed that the rest they get will be good rest and again will allow them to be more attentive to their work.
Try the alternative before medications. Medications will have lasting effects on the child, and you do not want that on your conscience as the child gets older. Medication can make your child be so lethargic they do not want to do anything, and they do not have an appetite. Do not do this to your child. Allow them the childhood they deserve and let them be kids before and after school!
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