How much to share with a child? | ADHD Information

I would share, but share slowly. Is he going to take meds? You have to tellhim something if he is. We told our daughter it was medicine to help her focus in school. just like takig medicine for allergies or anything else. As she got older we elaborated more and more. Help him understand it is all part of his uniqueness, the same way you would handle explaining any differences between him and anyone else. Kids are more aware than we realize, but they will also ask for only what knowledge they can hadle. My oldest is easy, the simplest answer is good enough for her. My 5 year old asks how many blades of grass there are and if there's more water on earth or more sky, and when you answer her, she says "how do you know", needs more explaining and gets it. Depends on the child. My 7yo son was just diagnosed with ADHD (with an emphasis on the hyperactivity part.) He's very intelligent (gifted) and really has a good understanding of how things work. He knows that there is a part of him that "acts like a motor" and he doesn't know how to control it.

Do I share this diagnosis with him? If so, how much do I share with him so he doesn't feel like he is being labeled?
Minty Fresh39387.2609143518I think you ought to share this with him in an age appropriate way. My son was 8 and we told him what he had and how to help it. He took the meds for 2 weeks and then shut down and refuses to take them. He has put up a wall as far as the adhd and won't discuss it. He doesn't even care he is doing worse in school. Even though we had a bad reation I still believe this should be shared. There are even age appropriate books you can read together. Good luck and it's a good sign he recognizes something needs fixing.spamula, I'm so sorry that this is happening. Could it be something more for your child? I'm not an expert of course and only hear others on this forum and of course read some at times to understand my own son's impulsive issues/adhd. I'm just wondering if for your son, (you may of already tried this) if play therapy or some form of therapy might be beneficial. Maybe building up to the use of taking the med. My son uses both play therapy (he is a bit younger than your child), med, and high protein, low carb diet (we are not always good at the latter as he is becomming a picky eater these days...the age thing, I suppose).[QUOTE=4myson]

I was given advice that I took to heart and I think it was very good. Talk about it only as it comes up. Of course an explanation of why you are taking the med might be necessary but this can be done simply. If your child ask more or wants to know more then answer as much as needed. If your child wants more answers then give more. If he is satisfied with the answer that you give then you have accomplished what is age appropriate. Hope my explanation makes sense.

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This is what we did with my son 9, he took the meds for 2 weeks and then decided he wasn't having any part of it. He said they did not make him feel different except in a good way. He swears he had no side effect or ill feelings while on them and acknowledgeds he felt BETTER on them. but when it comes down to taking them His walls come slamming down every day, We do not make a big thing of it anymore, but are frustrated that he can not live up to his potential(and makes this house a living hell). Just don't get it still, It has been 1 month off the meds.

My son has never argued taking his meds, but he does argue about other things even though he enjoys them. For example, he loves movies but I almost have to drag him out to go see them (or even watch videos) and EVERY time he tells me how much he enjoyed the movie. The next time we talk about seeing a movie, it's the same argument. BTW, the main reason I push it is because I don't feel it's fair to deprive his brother (and because I know he'll enjoy it once it starts). I just don't get it! He's 9 years old, perfectly capable of talking rationally about it, and it happens every time!

Of course, I'm not trying to compare this to your troubles in getting your son to take his meds, but it seems like a similar kind of "glitch." Does bribery help? Would he fight you if you tried Daytrana since it doesn't involve any "action" on his part?

My son was 6 1/2 when we started meds. He is now 10. My son knows all about his "situation". I am very honest with him. My DS asks about his meds, will tell us the reason something happened was because of the pills or because they wore off, he is very involved. He is finally beginning to talk to his psychopharmocologist when asked "how are you doing", How is everything going, how do your meds make you feel.

I would start the conversations, let him ask questions, be honest, I think they respect that even though they are young, and these ADHD'ers sure are smart!!

I debated this for a long time. I just didn't know what to do. Here is what worked for our family.

Recently at a med check my son who is 5 1/2 was asked by his doctor if he felt his medicine helped him. My son's response was very heartwarming ... he said, "It helps me to control myself when I get all jumbled up inside." I never really explained it in detail and never really heard him express his understanding. I knew at that moment that as a parent I had made the right choice to handle it the way I had. He understood and I didn't have to go into long drawn out explanations.

As I have said on some other posts... I really feel that we as adults can make things bigger than they are... and can enable our children to the point we are not really helping. Sometimes in my opinion honesty and simplicity works better. Don't hold back talking about it, but only talk about what is needed and nothing more. As the child develops and matures then explanations can be more detailed if necessary.

My son was 5 when he started medication. We talked about how he jumps from one thing to another not able to pay attention to anything long enough to enjoy it. I told him that was because his brain was going to fast for him and the meds would help his brain slow down so he could enjoy doing the things he likes for a longer period of time. I am lucky that he likes the way the meds make him feel and he takes his meds with no problem. Diane V your 5 year old sounds like my son. Always asking why, why and why. My oldest when he was young always asked why the sky was blue and the grass green. He is 13 and we laugh about it still.My son has been in play therapy for over 1 month now. The therapist says the same things. He is fine when discussing other things but as soon as taking the meds comes up the walls come crashing down. I could understand this if he was having side effects or feeling funny on the meds. He swears this is not the case. He says he thinks he can just do it without them (which he really can't) we have had many more bad days than good ones since he stopped taking it. There is something else going on and we discussed the patch and he said it didn't matter it was the idea of the meds not how he got them and he would probably take it off. I can't take much more of this! AARRGGHH!!