daycare advice | ADHD Information

If your child would benefit directly from the teacher knowing, yes. If not, no.

My son was diagnosed with adhd at 3.  He has been on focalin 5mg since and he is now 4 1/2.  He is thriving.  He has zero side effects from the med and has blossomed socially and academically.  I really feel blessed.  (I should add that I am a special education teacher so i know how rare this is).  My question is this, we have put him in a daycare that has a really good preschool program that he is doing well in but do i need to reveal to the staff that he has adhd and is on meds?

I would get to know the teacher first and make my determination after observing her demeanor around children. Then if you feel the need, by all means share with the teacher. I would also base it off how your son reacts to her.  If you think she has the type of temperment that your son might not do well with then you might need to share some strategies with her that might help her and your son do well with one another. For example my son does not do well with someone getting in his face.  I had this problem earlier this year and I took the time to sit down with the teacher and we worked out other ways for her to get his attention.  They have a great relationship now. Matter of fact he adores her. She is firm but approaches him from a different angle.  The three of us make a great team.

My son is the same age and on the same dosage and type of medicine as your son.  He however, still has some focus issues.  I will probably sit down with this years teacher to share how he operates and what triggers him.  His teacher this year is not as cuddly as his past care givers or teachers.  It will be really interesting to see how this goes. 

In years to come I will make my decision on wether to talk to the teachers based off his progress.  I think it is just a day to day and year to year process. Good thing I absolutely love and adore being his mom.  Otherwise I might  of pulled my hair out by now.

By the way I am a teacher as well.

Whether you need to or not is up to you.  I would.  If something happened and he needed medical treatment, the people treating him should know.  You could just tell the director and not all the staff.I always explore places and is open so they know and understand your child and when you tell them look for their reactions to decide.  I'm surprised it's not on the intake papers.  Our son is in pre-school and that is just a standard question on his intake papers.....I am an in-home daycare provider, and parents must list the childs medications and any medical conditions/allergies on my intake paperwork that is required by the state.  Daycare providers must know this information in case the child becomes ill or is injured while in their care and requires medical attention.  In these cases, the provider must be able to give any necessary information concerning the child's medications.I would do it but primarily for assistance in a medical emergency.  I think it is important that the people we trust our children with are aware of any medical condition that they might haveI would tell the administrator at first, and then the teacher after I had known her for awhile.  You are not compelled to tell, though.  When I was in daycare, we had to be very strict about gloving for diaper changes and strident about handwashing because parents are not compelled to inform about things like AIDS or HepC. If he should begin to have difficulties, though, you would want the teacher to know so that they can make whatever accommodations might be necessary. Also, teachers tend to talk amongst themselves, however objectionable that sounds.  If the teacher begins to have difficulties with your boy, she cannot disclose to another teacher any medical information about your child that she may know, which would cut down on gossip and pre-judging.