Linda Berlin, Psy.D. & Psychological AssociatesCoral Springs: 1890 N. University Drive * Suite 215 * Coral Springs, FL 33071 * Telephone: (954) 227-2700 * Fax: (954) 227-2704 Boca Raton: 7000 W. Palmetto Park Road * Suite 407 * Boca Raton, FL 33433 * Telephone: (561) 347-0997 * Fax: (561) 347-0996 |
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Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD):
What Every Parent Needs to Know
By: Rhonda Grunther, MSW
As a parent, you have a very crucial role in your childs overall well-being and development. Whether your child meets his or her potential and whether his self worth and self dignity stays intact is, in great part, up to you . . . the parent.
You are the ones responsible for assisting and guiding your child every day. Teachin your child to successfully manage, organize, and cope with disappointments and frustrations are what parents do for each of their children. But for your child with ADD or ADHD, more is required of you. You must learn as a parent how t teach your child, how to focus on thier strengths, compensate for their weaknesses, and develop self advocacy skills to a greater degree.
As a Parent You Must:
- Start with the premise that your child will grow into a healthy, successful adult with an intact self concept.
- Teach your child that they are an individual in their own right and their uniqueness should be valued by others and by themselves.
- Accept your child's uniqueness.
- Embrace yoru child's individual needs. *Remember that if your child had poor vision, you would purchase glasses for them, or if they were hearing impaired, you would evaluate thier need for a hearing aide.
- Do what you must do to insure your child's "survival" in thier home, school, religious, sports and social environments.
- Learn what strategies and intervenions yoru child requires to "survive." Remember glasses and an hearing aide. You had your child evaluated and obtained what they required to meet their unique and individual needs.
- Thwart their failures, their frustrations, depression and/or anger by learning what they need to meet with success in all situations.
- Realize that the school environment is a key component in thier life, from early childhood on, and whether or not they fare well in school will impact them not just today but for all their tomorrows.
- Be assertive and agressively intervene to make certain your child receives all the interventions, accomodations, and understanding that the child requires in school.Be patient, perservere, and do not accept "no" responses, constant criticisms, and school failures.
- Know your rights. Know your child's rights on Federal, State and local levels.
- Be a part of the educational and psychological teams that will support your child daily and clear the obstacles in the child's path that will prevent theirhealth psychosocial and educational well-being, on-going growth, and success in school and in life.
Rhonda Grunther, MSW. She has been a leading special needs advocate in Broward and Palm Beach Counties since 1970. She has helped hundreds of children receive the educational accommodations necessary to lead a healthy and productive life. To learn more about Ms. Grunther click here or she can be reached at (954) 227-2700 or (561) 347-0997.