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Promoting Healthy Lifestyles for our Patients and Families |
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Dekalb Pediatric Center 404-508-1177 |
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To contact us: |
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Behavior, School, and ADHD |
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Every parent has concerns about their ability to understand their children at different ages and provide the right amount of structure and discipline. There are often questions about what is “normal”. Is he just being a boy? Do all children talk back? Why won’t my child use the potty? Is she supposed to cry every time I leave her? The teacher says my child is falling behind and acting out at school. My child hit middle school– what happened? There is no one size fits all instruction manual on parenting that would answer all the questions, worries, self doubts and concerns that every parent has about how to be the best possible parent. Just like parents, each child has his or her own temperament and personality style. Sometimes this temperament is very similar to one or both parents—other times you may wonder where your child came from. Sometimes a parent’s temperament can clash with a child’s temperament, for example a parent who likes to control things may be at odds with a strong willed child who does not respond to being controlled. Your challenge is to learn about age appropriate behavior and then try to match your parenting style with your child’s temperament. Here are some good web sites about behavior and parenting, as well as sites with information for success in school: Communication and Discipline all ages Behavior problems and Tantrums Bad habits/annoying behaviors like biting, thumb sucking, pacifiers, nail picking Child and Adolescent Mental Health from NIMH Positive Discipline is a more commercial website by Jane Nelsen, author of the series Positive Discipline A-Z, which we think is a helpful and appropriate approach to discipline. This link is to articles for parents. The article (#10) positive discipline guidelines is particularly helpful. Adventures in Parenting, a detailed guide using the RPM3 model. Responding, Preventing, Monitoring, Mentoring, Modeling from The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Helping your child series from the US Department of Education. Detailed PDF brochures about helping your child succeed academically in a variety of subjects.
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General Behavior Issues, Parenting, School Issues |
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ADHD and Other Attention Concerns Office Evaluation |
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A common concern we hear raised by parents and/or teachers is that a child is having difficulty keeping focused on activities including school work. Attention problems can interfere with behavior and performance both at home and at school. Unfortunately, exactly what is going on is not always clear. Some children will have ADHD – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, either hyperactive type, inattention type or mixed. Others may have different behavioral issues, learning disabilities, anxiety, depression and/or other psychological issues that may complicate the picture and make a diagnosis difficult. To help us sort out the various possibilities we use the Vanderbilt screening tool which is completed by parents and teachers. We ask that you download the forms and fax, mail, or drop them by when completed. Here is the link to download the whole initial package which includes a parent form, school release forms and teacher forms. One of the doctors will score the screen and you will be called to schedule an appointment at which time we can gather more information and discuss the results. Sometimes we are able to make a potential diagnosis while other times we will recommend further testing, observation, or referral. If medications are indicated the choices will be discussed, along with a treatment and follow up plan. The following are good websites with more information about ADHD to help you better understand the behaviors you may be seeing in your child. National Institute of Mental Health ADHD Medline Plus ADHD information with many additional links CHADD the leading non profit serving individuals and families with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders
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