Comments on: “Color Johnny Hyperactive” http://janzeiger.com/blog/2007/01/27/color-johnny-hyperactive/ Check back often for recommendations from a teacher turned homeschooling mom. *Consultations Available via Email and Phone* Thu, 03 Apr 2008 17:25:07 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Administrator http://janzeiger.com/blog/2007/01/27/color-johnny-hyperactive/comment-page-1/#comment-158 Administrator Tue, 27 Feb 2007 22:28:21 +0000 http://janzeiger.com/blog/2007/01/27/color-johnny-hyperactive/#comment-158 P.S. I would also ask whether or not your extended family typically eats a diet of processed foods that includes food dye, high fructose corn syrup, and other additives. Even adults can be affected by these additives. I know I am..I react to food dye and HFCS just like my son does. Food reactions are very real. So are nutritional deficiencies. Children (and many adults) today simply aren't getting the fuel they need for their body to run properly--especially their brains. Fish oil combined with the Feingold Diet (even for adults) might make all the difference in the world. I do agree about genetic disposition to certain learning styles. I'm a visual/spatial, gifted adult and my little one is a carbon copy of me!! :) Visual spatial people are often disorganized too which is associated with ADHD. Then you've got the whole right vs. left brained argument... I'm not saying we're not all different. I'm saying that we have to look at the whole child and the educational environment along with the home environment. In my experience, food and beverages are almost always overlooked, and I find this tragic. There are some more thoughts! P.S. I would also ask whether or not your extended family typically eats a diet of processed foods that includes food dye, high fructose corn syrup, and other additives. Even adults can be affected by these additives. I know I am..I react to food dye and HFCS just like my son does.

Food reactions are very real. So are nutritional deficiencies. Children (and many adults) today simply aren’t getting the fuel they need for their body to run properly–especially their brains.

Fish oil combined with the Feingold Diet (even for adults) might make all the difference in the world.

I do agree about genetic disposition to certain learning styles. I’m a visual/spatial, gifted adult and my little one is a carbon copy of me!! :)

Visual spatial people are often disorganized too which is associated with ADHD. Then you’ve got the whole right vs. left brained argument…

I’m not saying we’re not all different. I’m saying that we have to look at the whole child and the educational environment along with the home environment.

In my experience, food and beverages are almost always overlooked, and I find this tragic.

There are some more thoughts!

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By: Administrator http://janzeiger.com/blog/2007/01/27/color-johnny-hyperactive/comment-page-1/#comment-157 Administrator Tue, 27 Feb 2007 22:22:55 +0000 http://janzeiger.com/blog/2007/01/27/color-johnny-hyperactive/#comment-157 Sorry..that last line was supposed to say that we NEED to fix the system...not the kids. Sorry..that last line was supposed to say that we NEED to fix the system…not the kids.

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By: Administrator http://janzeiger.com/blog/2007/01/27/color-johnny-hyperactive/comment-page-1/#comment-156 Administrator Tue, 27 Feb 2007 22:17:57 +0000 http://janzeiger.com/blog/2007/01/27/color-johnny-hyperactive/#comment-156 I am certainly not saying autism doesn't exist. My argument is that children who don't fit in the "box" in today's society are often labeled and sometimes even medicated. I'm not okay with this and feel the need to speak out. I know it's not a popular stance but it's one I stand behind. I've taught far too many kids with this label. Looking back, I realize they didn't have a disorder. They were simply children with different learning needs...Some visual/spatial, some gifted, some with learning disabilities, etc...Some were reacting to chaos at home or additives in their diet. It's a very complex issue that, in my opinion, needs to be looked at with a critical eye. Just last year I tutored a very active (normal) 5 year old boy with above average intelligence. He went to kindergarten where he was bored out of his mind, and wouldn't you know it..by the 3rd month of school they had labeled him ADHD and had him on meds. I'm arguing that we fix the system and the problems associated with traditional education rather than just to fix children don't need to be fixed. I am certainly not saying autism doesn’t exist.

My argument is that children who don’t fit in the “box” in today’s society are often labeled and sometimes even medicated. I’m not okay with this and feel the need to speak out. I know it’s not a popular stance but it’s one I stand behind. I’ve taught far too many kids with this label. Looking back, I realize they didn’t have a disorder. They were simply children with different learning needs…Some visual/spatial, some gifted, some with learning disabilities, etc…Some were reacting to chaos at home or additives in their diet. It’s a very complex issue that, in my opinion, needs to be looked at with a critical eye.

Just last year I tutored a very active (normal) 5 year old boy with above average intelligence. He went to kindergarten where he was bored out of his mind, and wouldn’t you know it..by the 3rd month of school they had labeled him ADHD and had him on meds.

I’m arguing that we fix the system and the problems associated with traditional education rather than just to fix children don’t need to be fixed.

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By: Paula http://janzeiger.com/blog/2007/01/27/color-johnny-hyperactive/comment-page-1/#comment-155 Paula Tue, 27 Feb 2007 21:51:18 +0000 http://janzeiger.com/blog/2007/01/27/color-johnny-hyperactive/#comment-155 While I am troubled by the misdiagnosis & overdiagnosis, I can't go so far as to agree with those that say that ADHD doesn't exist. The genetic link is obvious in my family. My 19 y/o nephew (brother's child)suffers greatly from the socia/language/communication issues associated with severe ADHD, my 11 y/o nephew (sister's child) has Asperger's Syndrome, and my own child has Autism. Some resources to consider: "The ADHD/Austism Connection," by Diane M Kennedy and "Reweaving the Austistic Tapestry: Autism, Asperger Syndrome and ADHD," by Lisa Blakemore-Brown. While I am troubled by the misdiagnosis & overdiagnosis, I can’t go so far as to agree with those that say that ADHD doesn’t exist. The genetic link is obvious in my family. My 19 y/o nephew (brother’s child)suffers greatly from the socia/language/communication issues associated with severe ADHD, my 11 y/o nephew (sister’s child) has Asperger’s Syndrome, and my own child has Autism. Some resources to consider: “The ADHD/Austism Connection,” by Diane M Kennedy and “Reweaving the Austistic Tapestry: Autism, Asperger Syndrome and ADHD,” by Lisa Blakemore-Brown.

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