So many interesting topics! Folks encounter a great many situations that cause them distress, that they don't understand, and certainly, want to avoid in the future. Sometimes, I just shake my head, but we soldier on and help as much as we can. Here are some resources to help those who called and wrote in.
Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay
Roy wrote in about his 12-year-old-son who let loose with a string of swear words when he picked up some heavy lumber. His son defended himself by saying that swearing makes him stronger. Roy didn't believe him and I explained the science behind his son's valid defense.
In fact, most recently, it's been proven that swearing significantly enhances strength, endurance and a person's ability to tolerate pain. Britain's researchers proved that pain tolerance is increased by 33% if you use the "F" word.
Also, profanity is the native language of teenagers and this blog link will help you to understand that dynamic better.
In fact, most recently, it's been proven that swearing significantly enhances strength, endurance and a person's ability to tolerate pain. Britain's researchers proved that pain tolerance is increased by 33% if you use the "F" word.
Also, profanity is the native language of teenagers and this blog link will help you to understand that dynamic better.
Mercy was "dumfounded and insulted" when the principal of her son's school told her that she could not make a request to have him tested for special education because she was not a homeowner, but "only rented".
I explained that she needed to submit a written request and that the district has 15 days to present her with an assessment plan. Depending on the state, they may have 45 or 60 days to complete the evaluation and hold a meeting to share the results.
And no, they don't "have to" implement interventions and they can't delay. Once the written request is submitted, the timeline clock starts ticking.
Here are two blog posts that will help you, Marcy, as well as a website that will give you guidance about the law. You'll learn about the ways to advocate for your son in the coming years.
Center for Parent Information and Resources
You don't know what you don't know...Part I: The Special Education Referral
You don't know what you don't know...Part 2: The Special Education Assessment
I explained that she needed to submit a written request and that the district has 15 days to present her with an assessment plan. Depending on the state, they may have 45 or 60 days to complete the evaluation and hold a meeting to share the results.
And no, they don't "have to" implement interventions and they can't delay. Once the written request is submitted, the timeline clock starts ticking.
Here are two blog posts that will help you, Marcy, as well as a website that will give you guidance about the law. You'll learn about the ways to advocate for your son in the coming years.
Center for Parent Information and Resources
You don't know what you don't know...Part I: The Special Education Referral
You don't know what you don't know...Part 2: The Special Education Assessment
Image by Alexas_Fotos from Pixabay
Oh yeah, this is good news. A toilet seat that will help you know when you're in heart failure should be ready for purchase at the end of 2021. I hope it gets here before you need it!
The statistics on heart failure are terrifying and we could use any tools we can get our hands (or our tushes) on, so read the article that tells you the future of cardiac care! Science is incredible!!!
The statistics on heart failure are terrifying and we could use any tools we can get our hands (or our tushes) on, so read the article that tells you the future of cardiac care! Science is incredible!!!
photo credit to friendshipcircle.org
Andrew wrote in about his 14-year-old-son who's headed for high school soon. The son has been treated for ADHD since age 7 and he's having serious problems with time management.
PAY ATTENTION! THESE CONCEPTS RELATE TO MOST PEOLE WITH ADHD. READ THIS AND SEE WHAT YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT HELPING YOURSELF OR THAT PERSON WITH ADHD YOU LOVE OR EMPLOY!!
I warned that medication doesn't cure all ADHD ills and executive functioning deficits such as time management, anticipating, planning, organizing, task persistence, starting and finishing tasks, emotional stability, social judgment, to name a few, require intensive intervention.
I mentioned the following resources:
Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) and that he should consider joining and attending educational meetings. Andrew should also sign up for ADDitude and get their daily posts in order to educate himself about ADHD. The actual magazine has a lot more resources that he shouldn't overlook.
I recommended that Andrew learn about task persistence which is the step-by-step process for getting stuff done. Here's how it works...
This plan will help with both temporal horizon problems and discounting. I call temporal horizon problems "future sightedness" because those people with ADHD have difficulty seeing the future.
Temporal horizon is basically a time horizon. Just like sitting on the beach and trying to figure out what that is on the horizon and you have to wait and wait until it gets close enough so that you can detect what it is.
People with ADHD can't tell "what it is" until it's on top of them. Then, it's too late to escape the bomb that the plane is dropping.
The temporal horizon is related to age. Remember that first time you made a mistake and told your kid you're taking them to Disneyland next week and they drove you insane asking you every second until you left????
Temporal discounting is related to motivation. We are more motivated by those rewards and consequences if they're right in front of us, so I recommended to Andrew that he pepper his son's efforts to get ready for school or to finish a homework assignment with rewards so that his son could make the connection between his efforts and his successes.
Help them learn how to manage the tasks of life so they don't get fired
Listen to the conversation on the podcast that will be posted on Sunday morning.
Good luck out there!
Claudia
Join me on Facebook at Dr. Claudia McCulloch.
At DrClaudia.net, click on the "Ask Me" button and send me a question.
Sign up for the Sunday newsletter/"wrap-up" and get the week's Parenting Pointers and Blog Posts delivered to your digital door.
PAY ATTENTION! THESE CONCEPTS RELATE TO MOST PEOLE WITH ADHD. READ THIS AND SEE WHAT YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT HELPING YOURSELF OR THAT PERSON WITH ADHD YOU LOVE OR EMPLOY!!
I warned that medication doesn't cure all ADHD ills and executive functioning deficits such as time management, anticipating, planning, organizing, task persistence, starting and finishing tasks, emotional stability, social judgment, to name a few, require intensive intervention.
I mentioned the following resources:
Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) and that he should consider joining and attending educational meetings. Andrew should also sign up for ADDitude and get their daily posts in order to educate himself about ADHD. The actual magazine has a lot more resources that he shouldn't overlook.
I recommended that Andrew learn about task persistence which is the step-by-step process for getting stuff done. Here's how it works...
- You’ve been assigned a project.
- Carve out 30 minutes devoted solely to the project.
- Write out the steps (this is called task analysis).
- Having a plan is halfway to getting there.
- Assign a reasonable time line to complete those steps.
- Reasonable is the key word. Notice if you’re one of those folks who sets goals that are simply impossible to achieve.
- Set a specific amount of time to work.
- Working in brief and frequently steps is much much much more productive than working for hours on end.
- Make a calendar with the steps.
- Assign a reward for each step.
- Adjust as you work through it. If life interfered with living and you haven’t achieved your goal, adjust. That’s what adults do!
This plan will help with both temporal horizon problems and discounting. I call temporal horizon problems "future sightedness" because those people with ADHD have difficulty seeing the future.
Temporal horizon is basically a time horizon. Just like sitting on the beach and trying to figure out what that is on the horizon and you have to wait and wait until it gets close enough so that you can detect what it is.
People with ADHD can't tell "what it is" until it's on top of them. Then, it's too late to escape the bomb that the plane is dropping.
The temporal horizon is related to age. Remember that first time you made a mistake and told your kid you're taking them to Disneyland next week and they drove you insane asking you every second until you left????
Temporal discounting is related to motivation. We are more motivated by those rewards and consequences if they're right in front of us, so I recommended to Andrew that he pepper his son's efforts to get ready for school or to finish a homework assignment with rewards so that his son could make the connection between his efforts and his successes.
Help them learn how to manage the tasks of life so they don't get fired
Listen to the conversation on the podcast that will be posted on Sunday morning.
Good luck out there!
Claudia
Join me on Facebook at Dr. Claudia McCulloch.
At DrClaudia.net, click on the "Ask Me" button and send me a question.
Sign up for the Sunday newsletter/"wrap-up" and get the week's Parenting Pointers and Blog Posts delivered to your digital door.
