[Antoninus]

If you had a child with ADD or ADHD, if using your method of dealing with it, the child would be beaten to a bloody pulp by now.

Please. We don't beat our children. I've known kids with ADD. My own kids act that way sometimes--my wife and I often laugh and say that if a teacher ever saw our 5-year old son acting the way he sometimes does, he'd be on ritilin in a second. When these behaviors arise, we counter with both positive and negative reinforcement consistently and it works just fine. Eventually, the kids learn to suppress such behaviors on their own.

Bringing up kids can be hard work. Giving your kid drugs to fix problem behaviors is the easy way out for a dependent generation accostomed to quick-fixes.

[Hayzo]

Sorry! I reread your comment and don’t mean to imply you beat your kids.

I am saying that ADD/ADHD, like any other disorder, can be moderate to severe. I do not believe that any kid should be immediately drugged as a substitution for discipline and motivation. But many severe ADD/ADHD simply do not respond to traditional methods and would most likely benefit from the medications.

Again, I am sorry for reading your comment out of context.

[Corin Stormhands]

My own kids act that way sometimes--my wife and I often laugh and say that if a teacher ever saw our 5-year old son acting the way he sometimes does, he'd be on ritilin in a second.

FWIW, five is too young to diagnose ADD.