Does anyone have any experience with behavioral therapy for children with ADD/ADHD?

I'm doing a paper on treating ADD/ADHD with behavioral therapy instead of medication or combined with medication. I would love to hear about anyone's experience with both types of treatment and any books you recommend or any doctors you may have used and wouldn't mind answering a few questions. THANKS!

Asked by jmctechie 38 months ago Similar questions: experience behavioral therapy children ADD ADHD Health > Mental Health.

Similar questions: experience behavioral therapy children ADD ADHD.

Well... Well I have done foster care for many many years. One of the issues I saw was that people, Parents and a lot of foster parents and even socail workers liked to OVER medicate the kids. That way they were easy to control and handle, since they were more like little zombies.

That always bothered me. My belief is that if they need to be on medication, it should be just enough to help them focus at school, and used only for school. At home its the parents JOB to spend time with them, help them with HW and let them be kids.

All 5 of my boys are labeled ADHD. Only 1 of them is still on ny meds. I have found other ways to help them learn to focus.As well as some good books that help.

I can go into more detail if you send me a message. But in general they take daily vits, as well as fish oils and such that help with the brain functions. Also they each have a soda at the first break at school.

Some have one at lunch, but normally 1 is good enough, along with some choch. At lunch to get them thru the day. Granted at home they are at times bounching off the walls, or driving me up them, but I have found ways that help control that as well.

First I keep them active when possible. Also I know and understand that after 20 min they need a break and to get them to do something else for atleast 5 minutes. Also I don't give compicated directions and I keep most the normal stuff written and posted so if ther is ever a question on how something is to be done, or who has to do what chore what day, they can look on the proper board/list and see it and that helps a lot!

I also don't make them grow up to fast. I think that is a big issue today. Their therapists all agree with me on this one also.

I hug each of my boys several times a day. My 12 yr old sometimes will still want to sit on my lap when we talk or even get his turn to snuggle when we all watch a movie. This helps them all.

My 15 yr old is better about this now, but he still wants and needs his hugs and hsi "daddy" or "dad" time. He will lean upto/on me when we are on the sofa watching as he is too big to even try sitting on my lap now. But he also knows, as do all my boys, that its okay if they still need the attention that younger kids need.

Its part of helping them grow up good and being healthy. Some of their frineds have even told them they are lucky that they have a dad that does nto tease them about doing it or wanting a hug and such. I think part of the ADHD issue is that kids don't know how to express themselves and as they grow up they are forced inside this box of being a big kid and such and yet they never got to fully be a little kid.

And by allowing it and even encouraging it at times it helps them express themselves better and also they can see how their behaviors affects otehrs and themselves. That is key! And my boys now will help each other if they are too hyper or getitng unruley (normally they are well behavied but boys will be boys) and they will help thier brother calm down and get it under control.

My 5 yr old at times will get really bad and he can even start to try to fight. But his brothers know that is not allowed and instead of running to tell me they all start a tickle war instead and it solves the issue. I have taught them to tickle each other if they think someone is getting really upset and is going to get in trouble.

Its hard to be mad when your laughing. And it works. I also see that by spending time with them all and then also some time with each of them they see how they need to act and the older ones know that th eyounger ones will do what they see them do, so they also have learned that if a younger one does soemthing and I fiind out they learned it from seeing an older brother do it, they are also in trouble.

There are several other things I have found that work well also to help keep them calmer and better behaved. Have had many boys with daytime wetting issues and most of them being bedwetters, I have never allowed teasing at home, esp over things a person cant control, like wetting or such. I noticed that when I got some of the boys ready for bed, they were more calm when they had a diaper on that when they were in their undies.

And even more calm when in a warm cofy sleeper and a diaper than in simple pjs. I asked some of the therapists about it and they said that a lot of kids like "to be babied" to a degree when they know they are safe and it gives them a sense of security and being loved and wanted. They said to go with it if it helped the child out.

So the routine for the bedtime was bath (on bath nights) and changed for bed, by 7:30 or so. Some started right after dinner and then they could watch tv and such until quiet time and then bed.It worked great and those that were bedwetters normally were put into diapers instead of the bedwetter pants as the diapers seemed to not only keep them and the bed drier but also seemed to help them be more calm and more of a happy go lucky kid. Be it if they were 5 or 12 or 14+.

Granted the older ones learned to change themselves so they could handle it most the time. This has been a helpful thing for them as it also allows them to be safe kids again. They know that they can be whom they are and not be teased.

Even if that means that somedays they need to be a little kid again they know that its ok and that what I want is whats best for them. They know I love them for whom they are no matter what. That is something else kids need to know and hear as well.

Another thing that works wonders is to be FIRM with them, Threats don't work. And when they are in trouble, let the punishment fit the crime! And keep the punishment short as after a little while they don't remember why they are being punished.

I try to always discuss it with them at the end of the time out or punishment so they know and UNDERSTAND what they did was that got them in trouble. I also tell them I love them, but I do not like the bad behavior so we need to make sure we don't see it no more. And that good behavior is more fun.

And they understand that as well and it helps them start to self regulate their own behavior over time Hope this helps. Sources: My thoughts as a single adopting/foster daddy with 5 boys, please check out my Online Photo Gallery at AkPhotos.zenfolio.com/ GlacierWaterIsCold's Recommendations 80HD: A Child's Perspective on ADHD Amazon List Price: $9.99 Used from: $9.993 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 3 reviews) Real Boys : Rescuing Our Sons from the Myths of Boyhood Amazon List Price: $16.00 Used from: $0.01 Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5 (based on 117 reviews) Real Boys' Voices Amazon List Price: $15.00 Used from: $0.01 Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (based on 15 reviews) Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys Amazon List Price: $15.00 Used from: $9.998 Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (based on 109 reviews) Boys of Few Words: Raising Our Sons to Communicate and Connect Amazon List Price: $19.997 Used from: $7.00 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 5 reviews) How to Reach and Teach ADD/ADHD Children: Practical Techniques, Strategies, and Interventions for Helping Children with Attention Problems and Hyperactivity Amazon List Price: $27.95 Used from: $0.78 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 11 reviews) The Hyperactive Child Book: Treating, Educating & Living With An Adhd Child - Strategies That Really Work, From An Award-Winning Team Of Experts Amazon List Price: $19.997 Used from: $0.01 Understanding Your Child's Puzzling Behavior: A Guide for Parents of Children with Behavioral, Social, and Learning Challenges Amazon List Price: $19.997 Used from: $6.88 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 14 reviews) Making the System Work for Your Child with ADHD (Making the System Work for Your Child) Amazon List Price: $38.00 Used from: $29.998 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 14 reviews) The "Putting on the Brakes" Activity Book for Young People With ADHD Amazon List Price: $19.997 Used from: $5.99 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 6 reviews) Understanding and Supporting Children with ADHD: Strategies for Teachers, Parents and Other Professionals Amazon List Price: $32.95 Used from: $20.75 The Trouble with Boys: A Surprising Report Card on Our Sons, Their Problems at School, and What Parents and Educators Must Do Amazon List Price: $29.997 Used from: $11.99 Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (based on 14 reviews) Real Boys Workbook: The Definitive Guide to Understanding and Interacting with Boys of All Ages Amazon List Price: $16.95 Used from: $1.48 Emotion-Regulating Play Therapy with ADHD Children: Staying with Playing Amazon List Price: $39.95 Used from: $66.27 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 1 reviews) Boyhood Daze: An Incomplete Guide to Raising Boys Amazon List Price: $9.99 Used from: $0.01 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 11 reviews) From Chaos to Calm: Effective Parenting for Challenging Children with ADHD and other Behavior Problems Amazon List Price: $15.95 Used from: $2.36 Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (based on 14 reviews) Playskool Guide to Raising Boys: Essential Information and Practical Advice for Raising Happy, Confident Boys (Playskool) Amazon List Price: $19.997 Homework Success for Children with ADHD: A Family-School Intervention Program Amazon List Price: $35.00 Used from: $18.12 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 1 reviews) Calm and Compassionate Children: A Handbook Amazon List Price: $15.95 Used from: $7.95 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 8 reviews) 'ZACK! GET YOUR BROTHER OUT OF THE FREEZER!

': A Survival Guide for Parents of Children with ADHD Amazon List Price: $12.95 Used from: $9.999 Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5 (based on 1 reviews) Fathering the ADHD Child: A Book for Fathers, Mothers, and Professionals Amazon List Price: $49.997 Used from: $2.50 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 1 reviews) Training Up a Little Guy: Inspiration and Wisdom for Raising Boys Amazon List Price: $14.95 Used from: $6.88 A Child's Guide to Concentrating - For Kids With ADHD Used from: $4.95 ADHD in the Young Child: Driven to Redirection: A Guide for Parents and Teachers of Young Children with ADHD Amazon List Price: $18.95 Used from: $2.97 Average Customer Rating: 3.0 out of 5 (based on 2 reviews) The Gift Of ADHD: How To Transform Your Child's Problems Into Strengths Amazon List Price: $16.95 Used from: $7.40 Average Customer Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (based on 21 reviews) Teaching Young Children With ADHD: Successful Strategies and Practical Interventions for PreK-3 Amazon List Price: $68.95 Used from: $62.99 Taking Charge of ADHD: The Complete, Authoritative Guide for Parents (Revised Edition) Amazon List Price: $19.95 Used from: $4.79 Average Customer Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (based on 49 reviews) Here are a few books I have found useful.As have many other foster parents I know. Good Luck on the paper. If you don't have a child with ADHD, you really need to find a few people that do so you can spend time with them, esp at diff ages as the behavior is different as they grow as well.

But one thing is certain, everyday will have challenges and are never dull at my home. Some of the best are when the boys spend the day watching dvds and playing cards or board games in their sleepers because of a storm. They all seem to love it.

Even the 15 yr old will skip his mp3 player and have fun more often then too. I even play legos with my boys and they love that part.

Starting it Recently I started some of it with my new son. He is 9 and I got him this spring and am doing a foster-adopt with him. Hoping to adopt him in late dec or Jan, working on that now.It will be the best Xmas present for me ever if I can get it done by Xmas, and Im trying but its a lot of red tape!

He is labeled with ADHD, OCD, Enuresis (night and some daytime due to small bladder and stress and it seems children with ADHD are 6-9 times more likely to be bedwetter than normal children, but boys in general are 4x more likely than girls as well), and some PTSD, as well as general symptoms of abuse (emotional and physical are known to have occurred). When I got him he was on medication, and way too much of it I felt. I changed his therapist and his doctor and the 2 new ones both agreed with me and so with less meds and a stable homelife he is doing well.

Still we have challenges and some issues but that is part of being a parent and part of being a boy as well. I have noticed some things that help calm him down and the new therapist, that was suggested to me by a few of the other foster parents, had some insightful ideas and suggestions to try. He told me some were not very common but he had seen good results with them form other parents and since some of the issues my son had, could easily call for some of them I tried them and found that they worked and it also helped to boost his self esteem as well.

He is kinda small and also very immature but he is doing better and it has also helped us bond and him to see that he is special and loved. And I also found out my nephew also loves his sleepers as well not that he got to wear them again when he does a sleepover here. And they also hide the pampers really well too.

But letting my son be immature and giving him the extra love and attention that he needs, and treating him, in many ways, like a 4-5 yr old has really helped him and that in turn has helped him to learn some self control and to see and feel when he is getting over stimulated or to hyper and then he can give himself a calm down time out and it works. Even other members of my family have seen a change in my nephew since I got my son and that he has learned some of the same new behaviors. S folks are shocked and so happy.

They got thier sweet little boy back and not a pain in the butt like he was becoming. Who knew that love, attention, special play time/reading time, a chart of activities & awards as well as chores, and his diapers after dinner could make so much of a change. With some of the new things we do, he is a happy cubscout and even has a few good friends and has done some sleepovers too.

Sources: my experiences with my son and from talking with his therapist and other foster parents fish4walleye's Recommendations Holding Time Amazon List Price: $13.00 Used from: $0.01 Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5 (based on 73 reviews) Hunter and s Amazing RemoteControl: A Fun, Hands-On Way to Teach Self-Control to ADD/ADHD Children Amazon List Price: $14.95 Used from: $13.42 Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (based on 2 reviews) How To Reach And Teach Children with ADD/ADHD: Practical Techniques, Strategies, and Interventions Amazon List Price: $32.95 Used from: $18.55 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 12 reviews) 80HD: A Child's Perspective on ADHD Amazon List Price: $9.99 Used from: $3.007 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 3 reviews) The "Putting on the Brakes" Activity Book for Young People With ADHD Amazon List Price: $14.95 Used from: $5.99 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 6 reviews) Classroom Success for the Ld and Adhd Child Amazon List Price: $13.007 Used from: $0.01 Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (based on 2 reviews) Socially ADDept: A Manual for Parents of Children with ADHD and/or Learning Disabilities Amazon List Price: $23.008 Used from: $20.00 Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5 (based on 4 reviews) A Boy and a Turtle: A Children's Relaxation Story to improve sleep, manage stress, anxiety, anger (Indigo Dreams) Amazon List Price: $3.009 Used from: $8.66 Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (based on 13 reviews) Boys' Cherokee® Glow Space Blanket Sleeper - Navy Pampers Cruisers, Size 7 (41+ Lbs), Economy Plus Pack, 92 Cruisers Amazon List Price: $46.99 Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (based on 371 reviews) Angry Octopus: A Relaxation Story (Indigo Ocean Dreams) Amazon List Price: $14.95 Used from: $9.98 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 5 reviews) ATN (All-Through-the-Night) Disposable Briefs size Small: 24"-32" 10/bag Understanding Your Child's Puzzling Behavior: A Guide for Parents of Children with Behavioral, Social, and Learning Challenges Amazon List Price: $14.95 Used from: $3.009 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 14 reviews) Blue Camo Footed Sleeper Pajamas for Boys Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 2 reviews) Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys Amazon List Price: $15.00 Used from: $2.00 Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (based on 109 reviews) ATN (All-Through-the-Night) Disposable Briefs size Youth: 18"-26" 100/Case Real Boys : Rescuing Our Sons from the Myths of Boyhood Amazon List Price: $16.00 Used from: $0.01 Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5 (based on 117 reviews) Attends Breathable Fitted Briefs w/ Flex Tabs, Size Small, Extra Absorbency, Bag/24 Amazon List Price: $19.99 Attends Briefs 10 Classic, Youth, 96-Count Package (96 Briefs) Amazon List Price: $94.957 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 1 reviews) Family Therapy for ADHD: Treating Children, Adolescents, and Adults Amazon List Price: $24.957 Used from: $23.99 Pampers UnderJams Night Wear For Boys, Size 7, Small/Medium Jumbo Pack - 17/Pack, 4 Ea Father to Son: Life Lessons on Raising a Boy Amazon List Price: $7.95 Used from: $0.01 Average Customer Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (based on 22 reviews) I think if they are comfy and cozy and warm, they will sleep better and more sleep helps them be better behaved as well. I think the diaper helps them sleep better as well and the therapist said it often gives older kids, especially boys a sense and feeling of security. Especially when they are not teased about it and they are given lots of love and attention.

And since my son needs them at night anyway, a little more time in them, incuding trips to the mall of america and long road trips, seem to help him and a few more diaper changes are not a big deal.

Email my daughter and ask her this very question. Tell her that her Mom sent you, virgochk18@aol.com. She is going to college and has been a special ed assistant for 3 yrs now, her name is "Julia".

Good Luck, Julia's Mom, Denise .

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Various types of psychotherapy exist for treating clients, including emotional therapy, behavioral therapy, and psychoan.

I'm sure you guys probably hate these mental health questions, but....

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I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.