Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: HungarianGypsy
I love his reaction to his little brothers' mischevious ways. I just smile and say, "You were worse."

I love that! I've told my son the same thing. (I'm sorry I didn't try harder to homeschool. long story) I also teach a Rel. Ed. class to 2nd graders. I've seen it soooo many times. You can almost always tell the truly ADHD from the ones who, well, you just know there aren't really many rules or much attention for some of them at home. One boy comes to mind from a yr or 2 ago. 'S' is quiet and shy and very bright. He would look as though he wasn't paying attention, yet he knew all the answers, knew exactly where we were in the book, always had his homework, rarely misbehaved, and helped everyone around him stay on target. His grandmother explained that he was never allowed to use the ADHD as an excuse. He was truly a gem. I remember my 2nd yr of volunteering, I had a group of mostly boys again and was flabbergasted about how they could wiggle so much (and I have a son!) and fall out of their chairs. Then I read a truly eye-opening study (looking for link) about how this kind of movement is normal and many kids, esp boys, need to use this. I lightened up on my 'policing' of such behavior, it dropped off by more than half and general behavior and work improved dramatically. 'My' kids know just what behavior is acceptable (I took a cue from the new school principal) and what isn't. Fidgeting and wiggling is no longer even on my radar. And then every year without fail there are always one or 2 kids who, already at age 7, have learned to use their ADHD as an excuse for everything from missed work to bad behavior to (attempting to) bother other kids from their work. They learn quickly it no longer works on me...

25 posted on 05/17/2005 5:12:18 PM PDT by fortunecookie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies ]


To: fortunecookie
When I first started to homeschool the wiggling bothered me. I also learned that the movement helped my son think. He would not pay attention without some sort of movement going on.
When he was 7 I put him Boys' Choir. Big mistake! The boys were to stand perfectly still. No matter how much he tried he just could not. He kept blaming himself for not behaving. His attitude made things worse at home, so I pulled him from it and his attitude improved. I had wondered why he was acting out so, since he had taken Improv classes a year earlier was complimented on his behavior. Just the same as his Sunday school classes (after he no longer had the one teacher). I was in his class to hear him give a talk once and saw it. He could not keep still. Oh! He wasn't acting up. He was quiet. But his foot kept moving back and forth..back and forth. I realized anything he does he needs to have some sort of movement.
26 posted on 05/17/2005 5:21:17 PM PDT by HungarianGypsy (Walk Softly, For a Dream is Born)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson