The Blog of P.U.R.E. and Sue Scheff

The stress parenting combined with Internet confusion. As a parent advocate I am always receiving emails and phone calls on a variety of schools and programs from parents and students that have first hand experiences. My personal experiences are with Carolina Springs Academy that is now closed -- I have heard it is reopened as Seneca Ranch . WWASPS (Worldwide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools) is the umbrella  organization that runs these programs.They also have others in the United States - at last glance there was Red River Academy, LA, Cross Creek, UT, River View, UT, Midwest Academy, IA, and you never know when more will pop-up in different names. Diamond Ranch Academy , sadly, though I don't have first hand experiences, I am receiving more negative feedback about them.  I wrote about them in June 2012 - and since then it is not getting much better. After speaking with several parents, that are looking for placement for their struggling teenag...

It is true – most parents are aware of ADD/ADHD from the time their child is a toddler and someone is making statements about your child being possibly ADD/ADHD.  It is a label that is used quite frequently, and as a parent of an ADHD son, I am familiar with it.  However, I do believe it is over-used too.  A new study is linking ADHD with adolescent depression.  This is a very interesting article that Connect with Kids just posted. Source: Connect with Kids “I try to do something, but I can’t because of the ADD, and it frustrates me. Then that makes me very nervous and anxious and that goes to the anxiety. And then when I get like that, I’ll go ‘Oh my god! I can’t do anything! I can’t do anything!’ And that leads to the depression.” – Ariel, 20 New research published in the Archives of General Psychiatry shows that children with ADHD are at an increased risk for depression and suicidal thoughts — and very well may need treatment for both....

How much is a parent supposed to tolerate before they reach their wit’s end ? How many times do you blame negative behavior on the friends they are hanging with, since your teen would never act like this? ( Not my Kid ) How long do you continue to allow your teen to speak to you with disrespect and defiance ? How much is too much? Let’s face it, parenting teens today has become more challenging than years before.  Think about your generation.  When your parent said to be home at 10:00pm, most were home by 9:50pm.  Why?  Because we respected our parents.   We also knew there would be consequences. Was that considered tough love ?  Not really, it was simply following the rules of the house.  These simple boundaries seem to have disappeared in many homes. Is it because there are more single parent households?  Is it because most families have both parents working, meaning there is less supervision? Without a doubt, the level ...

Kara Tamanini offers sound and understanding advice regarding ADD/ ADHD children. Take the time to visit her website. Her books for children are excellent! I was very impressed and recommend them if you have a child that is ADD/ ADHD . Source: Kids Awareness Series By Kara Tamanini The most important component at arriving at an accurate diagnosis of ADHD is to complete a thorough and comprehensive evaluation. Many times, I have seen children and they have have been brought in by their parents and diagnosed by their pediatrician after being seen for five to ten minutes. In addition, parents will often tell me that either their child’s pediatrician or a child psychiatrist, prescribed their child medication after being seen and the parent is uncertain as to whether or not their child received an accurate diagnosis. Unfortunately, this happens all too often and the steps to arrive at a diagnosis of ADHD should take more than 5-10 minutes in a doctor’s office. First and foremost, a c...

Dr. Selznick has written a book, The Shut-Down Learner , which can help many parents that are struggling academically with their kids that are underachieving may benefit from. Is there more to their lack of motivation? Here is a recent article by Dr. Selznick. We Keep Telling Him - “You've got to be organized. You've got to be organized!” By: Richard Selznick, Ph .D . Fifth grader, Matthew, is making his family crazy. The nightly ritual of "What do you have for homework?" "Did you hand in your work?" "When are you going to get started on your homework," is taking its toll on the family. Matthew's mother is particularly frazzled. With Matthew being the oldest of three children, he is putting tremendous strain on her. Not only does Matthew have a problem handing in his home work, and writing down his assignments, once Matthew gets started, it takes him incredibly long to finish. The other night, for example, it took Matthew between three and four...

Source: Parenting Toolbox Having an ADHD child often means MESS for mom and dad. Here’s some great tips and tools for keeping them slightly more organized: 1. Give specific instructions. “Put away the toys on your carpet on the shelf in the closet.” Be consistent — if the toys are stored on the shelf one night, they should be put there every night. Children need to know precisely what you expect. 2. Assign tasks that your child is capable of doing on his own. Success builds confidence. The goal is to teach your child to do things independently. 3. Involve your child in discussions about rules and routines. It will help him understand goals and teach him to accept responsibility. 4. Write down routines as sequences of tasks (two to five items only), and post where easily visible (refrigerator, bathroom mirror). Review lists regularly with your child. 5. Be realistic about time. Make sure you’ve set aside enough time for the child to complete his homework, clear the dishes, and get out t...

Parent networking is a great way to expand resources, tips, advice, and more! Today I was introduced to a new website – Kids Awareness Series . Kara Tamanini has worked in the mental health field for 15 years and specializes in ADHD. Her first book – Understanding ADHD is available now through Amazon and visiting her website. One of her recent articles is how parents deal with ODD – Oppositional Defiance Disorder. How Parents can deal with an ODD child Children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder exhibit an ongoing pattern of resistant, hostile, and uncooperative behaviors. These behaviors are often a challenge for parents and make the child’s behavior very difficult to deal with. Parents need support and undersanding and there are a number of things parents can do to help themselves and their child with ODD. First of all, build on the positive behaviors that you see in your child. No child is bad every single second of every day. Point out good behaviors and praise them and reinforce...

Source: ADDitude Magazine Is It More Than ADHD? Diagnosing & Treating Bipolar Disorder Symptoms of ADHD and bipolar disorder are often confused—and often coexist in the same person. How to make the distinction, and suggestions for treating bipolar disorder along with ADHD. by William Dodson, M.D. It can be difficult enough to obtain a diagnosis of attention deficit disorder (ADD ADHD), but to complicate matters further, ADHD commonly co-exists with other mental and physical disorders . One review of ADHD adults demonstrated that 42 percent had one other major psychiatric disorder. Therefore, the diagnostic question is not “Is it one or the other?” but rather “Is it both?” Perhaps the most difficult differential diagnosis to make is between ADHD and Bipolar Mood Disorder (BMD) , since they share many symptoms, including mood instability, bursts of energy and restlessness, talkativeness, and impatience. It’s estimated that as many as 20 percent of those diagnosed with ADHD also suff...

I just discovered this amazing Blog about parenting an ADHD child. As many know, I raised my son who is ADHD, and at the time, there were limited resources to help parents understand this behavior, options and information that we could understand - besides our child was hyper, smart, however not working to their academic potential (oh, and disruptive in class) - which I tend forget. 10 Rules for Working with My ADHD Child By Chris G. Everyone wants to know how to best help there child dealing with ADD or ADHD. Very often readers and social networking friends ask what we do, in working with our kids. Recently, a discussion like this resulted in an impromptu list of some of the rules we have tried to stick to. We’re not perfect and sometimes the train goes flying off the rails, but these rules make sense to us: 1.Always show love, acceptance and support – our love is not dependent on our children’s behavior. 2.Provide our children plenty of opportunities to make the right decision and c...

Wow, Danielle Herb (check out her video) offers an amazing program for kids with ADD/ADHD as well as helping kids overcome their fears. Since I am in Florida, I am always asked about programs here and honestly, there are not that many. Well, not many in my opinion - if you know my story and my organization , I am a bit on the picky side. Attention Children (Aged 10-16) With ADHD/ADD: Horse Kid Scholarship 2009 for Danielle Herb’s ADHD Horse Level 1 Master Class 21st - 28th June 2009- Visit http://www.adhdkidsscholarship.com/ Start Your Summer In Florida With Danielle Herb, The ADHD/ADD Natural Horsemanship Coach WHAT: The ADHD Horse Level 1 Master Class is an exciting new weeklong program developed by Danielle Herb and Drop Your Reins to help you manage your ADD/ADHD using natural techniques and without the need for prescription drugs. WHO: Children Diagnosed with ADHD/ADD Aged 10-16 WHEN: June 21-28, 2009 WHERE: North Florida - Cheers Ranch The Master Class will allow you to teach o...

I love this website! Maybe it is because I can relate so well, after raising an ADHD son or how it explains in simple language the challenges parents of ADD/ADHD children have. As summer is almost here, read these fantastic “Summer Survival Tips” for families of ADHD children from Power Moms Unite website. Striking a Balance: Summer Survival Tips for Families Managing ADHD One major issue with ADHD and summer vacations is the bored factor. Once the novelty of having all that free-time-to-do-anything wears away, what to do with all that free time becomes a problem. On the other hand, over-scheduling and over-planning the summer can lead to burn-out and irritability for both parents and children. The art of managing ADHD during the summer is really about the art of finding balance. Several strategies can help strike this balance. Keep a calendar: Use a monthly or weekly calendar and write down vacation, camp and community trip dates. Kids need routine to feel secure, but be sure to leav...

Source: ADDitude Magazine Every child is born with gifts. A child who has the fascinating trait called attention deficit disorder (ADHD) possesses extraordinary ones, but they may be hidden. And if they’re found, they can be tough to unwrap. I hear from parents who say they need a plan to help them do that. Well, your wish has been granted. I have a five-step plan, called the cycle of excellence, which will reveal your ADHD child's gifts for all to see. The plan works best if you love your child in the right way . First, try to catch her spirit and essence. Watch, listen, and interact with her, and don’t direct or worry about getting things done. Just hang out with her. You’ll come to see who your child is. Before she gets labeled smart or stupid, hardworking or lazy, athletic or klutzy, friendly or taciturn, engaging or standoffish, before she gets labeled ADD or XYZ, a parent usually senses the beginnings of who her child is. Hold on to that! Second, don’t listen much to the dia...

I love stumbling over great new parenting websites - and what a name - Power Moms Unite - Founder, Candace McLane offer a wide variety of articles, thoughts, tips, parenting resources and more on ADHD. As a mother of an ADHD son, I really enjoy this site. Check her Blog out too - great up to date info! What is a Power Mom ???? Power Moms are moms working to successfully balance the needs of child, family, and self. Some work outside the home, balancing a career with the needs of their child, family and personal self. Other moms are working from home, managing families while managing a small home-based business or managing large families and a homeschool. There are a wide range of us- all power moms- looking to do our best at our many hats as mom- be that nuturer, coach, educator, cheerleader, psychologist, disciplinarian, party arranger, role-model, etc. The roles are vast and numerous, the balance often difficult to strike. This site hopes to empower these moms by providing timely, ...

As a parent that has an ADHD child, I know firsthand the pros and cons of RX meds for children. It was a major decision for us to choose medication, however it was the best choice for my son. Each child and family are different. I believe it is best to have a second opinion, like I said, making this decision is major. Since I speak with parents I know that many have concerns with their teens abusing this medication - selling it at school or even purchasing it to get a high. Be an educated parent - learn more about the medications used for ADD/ADHD. Source: Connect with Kids “In a way that athletes have used steroids and other medications in the past to enhance their athletic performance, Adderall is actually being used to kind of pseudo-enhance their academic performance.” – Heather Hayes, M.Ed., Counselor. Nineteen-year-old Marisa McCorkle has been using Adderall for two years. “I use it for various reasons,” she says, “like tests, it helps me on tests. [A...

As a mother of an ADHD son, I know the struggles and difficulties adolescents can bring. ADDitude Magazine has some great parenting tips, ideas and information to help you today. Source: ADDitude Magazine ADHD behavior issues often partner with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) -- making discipline a challenge. Try these strategies for parents of ADD kids. Every parent of a child with attention deficit disorder knows what it's like to deal with ADHD behavior problems -- sometimes a child lashes out or refuses to comply with even the most benign request. But about half of all parents who have children with live with severe behavior problems and discipline challenges on an almost daily basis. Read Entire Article Here.

As a parent that had a son graduate a very prestigious Military School, I know the firsthand what an honor and privilege he was given. Many parents think of Military Schools as a punishment or where the “troubled” kids go - that is simply a myth. My son was accepted in accordance with his GPA as well as letters of references and interviewing with the school. It is almost as rigid as applying for some colleges. To further my opinion of Military Schools, when my son interviewed and applied to Universities, all the Admissions Directors were extremely impressed with his schooling at a Military School and was accepted to all the colleges he applied to. Has your child mentioned military academies to you? Have they expressed an interest in attending such a school? If so, you as a parent have an obligation to listen, and more importantly to help them make the right decision. Many ADD/ADHD students do very well in Military Schools. A military school teaches various ages (middle school, high sc...

Source: ADDitdue Magazine Symptoms of ADHD and bipolar disorder are often confused—and often coexist in the same person. How to make the distinction, and suggestions for treating bipolar disorder along with ADHD. by William Dodson, M.D. It can be difficult enough to obtain a diagnosis of attention deficit disorder (ADD ADHD), but to complicate matters further, ADHD commonly co-exists with other mental and physical disorders . One review of ADHD adults demonstrated that 42 percent had one other major psychiatric disorder. Therefore, the diagnostic question is not “Is it one or the other?” but rather “Is it both?” Perhaps the most difficult differential diagnosis to make is between ADHD and Bipolar Mood Disorder (BMD) , since they share many symptoms, including mood instability, bursts of energy and restlessness, talkativeness, and impatience. It’s estimated that as many as 20 percent of those diagnosed with ADHD also suffer from a mood disorder on the bipolar spectrum -- and correct di...

For parents of ADD/ADHD children, many have had tremendous success with the Feingold Program and Diet to help manage their kids. As the holidays are here, they are offering a fabulous goodie basket for your friends and family! Learn more at http://www.feingold.org/ Holiday Goodie Basket! Support your Feingold Association and wow your friends!A great assortment of all-natural, delicious treats in an attractive holiday gift baskets for you to enjoy or to give as gifts. For your $50 donation to FAUS, we will send a basket to the person of your choice.We have gathered our favorite Stage One & Stage Two yummies from sources around the country and will be assembling attractive gift baskets to be shipped out via Priority Mail to the locations and at the time you choose. Look for brownies, cookies, jelly beans, gummy bears, lollipops, and many other goodies and snacks.Wouldn't it be great if your relatives had lots of Feingold-acceptable treats on hand when you and your kids visit them...

Source: ADDitude Magazine ADHD Parenting Tips: Be Positive and Calm What does my style of parenting look like? Let’s say your nine-year-old refuses to comply with a simple request, like “Please pick up your toys.” Don’t repeat your request. Don’t yell or threaten a time-out. Instead, respond with action — firm, calm, quiet, and dramatic. For instance, you might begin placing the toys into a container. If the child asks what you’re doing, you can say that the toys will remain in your possession until she pays you a small sum or performs certain chores. Your floor will be free of clutter — and your child will be more likely to comply next time. Read entire article: http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/1879.html

How teachers and parents can inspire better ADHD school behavior with help from these impulse-controlling exercises for children with attention-deficit. by ADDitude Editors The problem: The student with attention deficit disorder (ADD ADHD) interrupts the teacher and classmates by calling out answers or commenting while others are speaking.The reason: Children with ADHD have difficulty controlling their impulses. Scientists believe that a problem with dopamine , a brain chemical, causes them to respond immediately and reflexively to their environment — whether the stimulus is a question, an idea, or a treat. That’s why they often seem to act or talk before thinking, and ADHD school behavior suffers as a result.The obstacles: Children with ADHD may not be aware that they are interrupting. Even if they are, they have difficulty understanding that their behavior is disturbing or disruptive to others.Simply telling them their behavior is wrong doesn’t help. Even though they know this, t...