2 of the Kids on the Block    
KIDS ON THE BLOCK
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KIDS' KORNER

February 24, 2015                                                       Issue #24

SAVE THE DATE!

AN EVENING OF WINE, CHEESE & CHOCOLATE

 

 

Reception and Silent Auction

Thursday, April 16th, 5:00pm

 

Click here for more information.

We hope to see you there!

Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Inattention, Hyperactivity, and Impulsivity

Inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity are behaviors of a person with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). It is normal for all children to be inattentive, hyperactive, or impulsive sometimes, but for children with ADHD, these behaviors are more severe and occur more often. To be diagnosed with the disorder, a child must have symptoms for 6 or more months and to a degree that is greater than other children of the same age.

Children who have symptoms of inattention may:

  • -Be easily distracted, miss details, forget things, and frequently switch from one activity to another
  • -Have difficulty focusing attention on organizing and completing a task or learning something new
  • -Not seem to listen when spoken to
  • -Struggle to follow instructions.

Children who have symptoms of hyperactivity may:

  • -Fidget and squirm in their seats
  • -Talk nonstop
  • -Have trouble sitting still during dinner, school, and story time
  • -Have difficulty doing quiet tasks or activities.

Children who have symptoms of impulsivity may:

  • -Be very impatient
  • -Blurt out inappropriate comments, show their emotions without restraint, and act without regard for consequences
  • -Have difficulty waiting for things they want or waiting their turns in games
  • -Often interrupt conversations or others' activities.
KIDS 
ROCK THE BLOCK!

 

February's Kid of the Month: Anna Perry

 

Anna Perry is an 11 year-old girl who has lots of energy. Anna says, "Sometimes my mom and dad say they get tired just watching me!"  Anna was born in South Korea, and she was adopted by the Perry family when she was a few months old.  By the time Anna was four years old, her family noticed that Anna was more active than most children. When Anna was in school, she was unable to focus at all in class.  Anna's parents brought her to the pediatrician, and eventually Anna was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
 
ADHD can mean different symptoms for everyone, and for Anna, her most challenging symptoms are her hyperactivity and frequent inability to focus on tasks.  Anna has developed strategies, along with her teacher, Mr. Beame, that help her focus during class.  Anna sits in the front of the classroom so that she can focus better, and she even has a signal that she shares with Mr. Beame that reminds her to focus attention on her schoolwork.
 
If you want to learn more about Anna's strategies and the symptoms of ADHD, Anna is featured in the Kids on the Block scripts called "Shhh!!" and "Career Day."

DID YOU KNOW?


 

Myth: ADHD isn't a real medical disorder

 

Truth: ADHD has been recognized as a legitimate diagnosis by major medical, psychological, and educational organizations, including the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Education. The American Psychiatric Society recognizes ADHD as a medical disorder in its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - the official mental health diagnostic system used by psychologists and psychiatrists.

Myth: Children with ADHD eventually outgrow their condition

Truth: More than 70% of the individuals who have ADHD in childhood continue to have it in adolescence. Up to 50% will continue to have it in adulthood.

Although it's been estimated that 6% of the adult population has ADHD, the majority of those adults remain undiagnosed, and only one in four of them seek treatment. Yet, without help, adults with ADHD are highly vulnerable to depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. They often experience career difficulties, legal and financial problems, and troubled personal relationships.

MYTH: Children who take ADHD medication are more likely to abuse drugs when they become teenagers.

Truth: Actually, it's just the opposite. Having untreated ADHD increases the risk that an individual will abuse drugs or alcohol. Appropriate treatment reduces this risk.

The medications used to treat ADHD have been proven safe and effective over more than 50 years of use. These drugs don't cure ADHD, but they are highly effective at easing symptoms of the disorder. The drugs do not turn kids into addicts or "zombies."

 

LORIE'S UPDATE

 Lorie

Recently, a parent of an 8 year-old asked me if Kids on the Block would visit her child's school to talk about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).  ADHD and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) are conditions characterized by certain behaviors that may seem like normal childhood behaviors  such as having lots of energy and being distracted.  However, it is the degree to which these symptoms appear, and the reoccurrence of these symptoms, that might indicate a possible ADHD or ADD diagnosis.  A pediatrician or mental health specialist can make a diagnosis; however, there is no single test to give a child to determine if he or she has ADHD or ADD.


 

When Kids on the Block present the scripts "Shhh!" and "Career Day," students freely ask the puppets questions about each diagnosis.  The most popular questions include the following:  "Can you catch it?" (the answer is no), "Can it go away?" (it can last through adulthood), and more commonly, "What causes it?"  The answer to the last question is that no one knows for sure.  The puppets offer answers that align with the latest research. For example, Kids on the Block puppet Nurse Abby Lynch mentions that some doctors believe that ADD/ADHD might be inherited through a genetic predisposition.  There is also research which supports that the causes may also lie in the child's environment or developmental circumstances during pregnancy or at birth.


 

Whatever the cause of these conditions, the puppets aim to reduce the stigma associated with these and any other mental illness.  By performing the scripts about ADD/ADHD in conjunction with another script about physical disabilities, we aim to let children know that these are actual medical conditions.  As always, the Kids on the Block educates its audience in "Person-First Language," meaning that the illness or disability does not define the person. 

 

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

 

What audiences say about ADHD:


 

"What I learned today is that Anna has ADHD, and that means that she can't pay attention a lot, and she can't sit still."

-       Third Grader, Stoneview Elementary


 

"I learned that even though someone has ADHD, you still have to treat them with respect."

-       Third Grader, Stoneview Elementary


 

 To schedule a Kids on the Block performance, please contact Lorie at [email protected]  

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

 

Kids on the Block is only one of many programs offered by MHA of Georgia to further our mission of enhancing the mental health of all Georgians through education, outreach and advocacy.

 

Click here to learn more about our programs.  Your support will help us continue our work educating Georgians about mental illness, working to eliminate stigma and advocating on behalf of people with  mental illness in our state.  Click here to support MHA of Georgia.

 

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