Celebrate Home School In Jakarta Indonesia

Contrary to those whose perspective of Attention Deficit Disorder and ADHD is pessimistic—and even fatalistic—we enthusiastically celebrate children and adults with ADHD because:

 

1.      They are purposefully wired differently, not deficiently. We work with our nature, not against it.

2.      They possess unique, advantageous qualities that enrich society.

3.     They are trailblazing innovators, entrepreneurs, artists, musicians, inventors and leaders.

4.      Many supposed negative qualities can actually be positive advantages.

5.     They will thrive in a future defined by self-directed enterprise and risk-taking.

6.      Cultivating their natural gifts, talents and passions restores confidence, purpose and joy.

7.      They are idealistic world-changers with large visions.

8.     They have giving hearts and find purpose by using their gifts to help others.

9.     They possess fortitude to overcome obstacles. We reject the premise that ADHD is synonymous with failure and will not allow anyone to use ADHD as an excuse to fail.

10. They possess the compassion and intuition necessary to enjoy intimate relationships.

openPR) - (Washington, D.C.) February 10, 2006 - Children with ADHD should be celebrated, not medicated as a first option.

Yesterday's admission by the government that 79 people had either died suddenly or suffered serious cardiovascular problems after taking drugs to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder has caused great alarm among parents.

It is tragic that 75 of 100 kids who walk into a psychiatrist's office for the very first time walk out with a prescription in hand for a stimulant medication to treat ADHD.

Kirk Martin, Founder of educational organization Celebrate!ADHD, insists, “We must change everything else-our attitudes and expectations, diet and nutrition, the way we reach and teach kids-before we change our children through medication.”

Martin asserts the following:
· Children with ADHD are often medicated as a first option for the convenience of adults who want to make them compliant.

· Kids with ADHD don't need to be changed - Celebrate!ADHD has witnessed an 85% reduction in use of Ritalin by working with a child's nature instead of against it.

· Children with ADHD possess superior traits their peers do not possess. In fact, society desperately needs the energy, creativity, imagination, passion and persistence that only children with ADHD possess.

The gravest danger of overmedicating is destroying a child's confidence, self-worth and sense of identity.

“When we seek to change our children by first medicating,” Martin insists, “we send the insidious message that they are inherently inferior and incapable of self-control. We should not tell our children that they can be successful only if we change who they are.”

Contrary to the prevailing fatalistic view of ADHD, Celebrate!ADHD celebrates and cultivates the advantageous qualities specifically afforded by ADHD. The organization advocates positive strategies to increase focus, improve school performance and build confidence.

Martin adds this advice for parents. “Your attitude is more potent than any medication.”

Circles Need Squares.
A good phrase to remember. Children with ADHD are like circles. Their minds can go around and around, without borders or definition. So they need squares in their lives to provide boundaries and order:

Physically -- A neat, orderly house and work space with everything in its place
Mentally -- Written To-Do lists
Emotionally -- Strong, steady, calm parents with clear rules and consequences.

Remember to Celebrate.
Take a moment and think of ONE GOOD QUALITY you see inside your child. Tonight, before bed, tell your child that you really love that quality. Tell him or her why you do, how it helps others or makes you feel, why you are proud of him. No matter what else is happening, even if you’ve had the worst meltdown ever, find that one quality and celebrate it. Then write me and tell me how your child responds.

Give Your Children LESS STUFF and MORE TIME. 
Kids with ADHD crave and need one-on-one time. Please don't substitute things for time, it tends to contribute to our kids being unsettled and more easily bored. Next time you are tempted to buy them something, say no and plan to spend an hour alone with them instead.

Who Says You Can’t Chew Gum in School?
Sometimes chewing can help ease tension or increase attention. Some children like to chew gum or pen caps or something else comforting. Is this really a big deal to the school? No, and if it helps your child, have the teachers make this accommodation.

Study while doing repetitive, enjoyable tasks.
Sometimes focusing too intently makes everything scrambled for children with ADHD. So quiz your child or have him think about lessons while he’s doing something like shooting a basketball, bouncing a ball against a wall or kicking a soccer ball back and forth. The act of doing something physical and active, especially outside in the fresh air, without having to think about it, can relax your child and help him recall information.

Enjoy Your Child.
Sometimes we get so wrapped up teaching, instructing, disciplining, pestering, raising and reminding our kids that we forget the most important thing we can do: enjoy them. Don't let your home become an explosive household filled with tension and constant activity. Take time to watch your child and appreciate his uniqueness. Laugh. Play. Giggle. Forgive. Ask for forgiveness. Give them nights off from homework when they need it. Be their advocate, be on their side. Have an ice cream sundae on a school night.

Expose your child to extracurricular activities.
Our job as parents and teachers is to prepare our children to be successful in life, not just school. Our kids often develop helpful qualities such as leadership, teamwork, discipline and responsibility through Scouts, sports, music lessons, etc. And don't forget the value of simple playing and exploring, especially for younger kids. Try not to force your child to lose recess and play time in order to complete extra homework--they need a balanced life just as we do.

Experiment with stimulation—auditory and visual.
Some children with ADHD can’t stand the sound of absolute silence. So experiment. Run a small fan where they do homework for background noise. Let them play music. Sometimes they can get into a “rhythm” of thinking. Experiment with a totally quiet place. Or mix it up and go to a mall food court or Subway shop—sometimes they do better with lots of stimulation around them. It can actually help them focus and enjoy their work more. Sit outside and do homework. Experiment away until you find combinations that work best for your child.

Turn Bedtime into Meaningful Time.
I know, by the end of the day, you can’t wait for your child to go to bed! But don’t miss out on this opportunity. It is often the best time to listen to them and find out what’s going on inside them.

So lie down with them at bedtime and talk quietly—tell them why you wanted to have a child, tell them you are glad that they were born and that they are your son or daughter, tell them all the good things you see inside them, that even if they can't get graded on their curiosity and laugh and wit and ability to put things together or draw or sing or make people happy, those are wonderful qualities. Pray for them and thank God in front of them for their special qualities. Your child's heart is more important than anything else.

August 31, 2005 (Washington, D.C.) – Robbie Raffino used to rise every day like most eight-year-olds. He’d wipe the sleepiness from his eyes, throw on shorts and shirt that don’t match and eat cereal while watching cartoons.

But the innocence ended there. He’d swallow his Ritalin, hop on the school bus and enter a world where teachers, therapists and psychiatrists would try to “fix what is wrong” with him.

Children like Robbie—who have tremendous energy, don’t respond to classroom lectures, prefer independent work and are natural leaders—are often diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Unfortunately, most “experts” begin with the premise that these children suffer from a disorder, meaning an “abnormal” functioning of the brain. This flawed premise leads to a natural conclusion—that society must change these children to make them learn and behave like everyone else.

Parents Shelley and Andy Raffino of Chicago express a common frustration. “We spent so much time trying to fix our son’s weaknesses that we never focused on his strengths. The constant negativity, pressure and medication destroyed Robbie’s confidence.”

Not surprisingly, children subjected to the endless chorus that “there is something wrong with you” often lack confidence. Even well-meaning attempts to medicate further erode their dignity—the kids feel powerless to succeed without the help of a pill and just don’t feel like themselves.

But what if there really isn’t anything wrong with these children? How would our attitudes, treatment and children be affected if we recognized that these children are wired differently for a distinct purpose?

Ironically, the very society that has labeled and devalued these kids desperately needs the unique qualities that only children with ADHD possess. Who else possesses the energy, creativity, innovation, passion and persistence that lead to breakthroughs in science, the arts and business? New research suggests that up to 75% of entrepreneurs exhibit the classic symptoms of ADHD.

Contrary to those who view ADHD through a negative prism, Celebrate!ADHD enthusiastically celebrates the unique differences and advantageous traits children with ADHD possess.

We believe that current treatments are based on a flawed premise and false assumptions. Society does not assume there is something wrong with the child who cannot write creative stories, paint beautiful landscapes or lacks initiative to work independently. So why do we assume children with ADHD have a disorder because another part of their brain is dominant?

Likewise, it seems absurd to state that children with AHDH cannot focus. In fact, they display unmatched concentration when interested in a project or subject.

An inordinate amount of time, energy and money is spent trying to change behaviors and qualities that don’t need to be changed—time that would be better spent cultivating the child’s natural gifts, talents and passions.

And this is the core of our philosophy. Work with the child’s nature and wiring, not against it. Identify and then cultivate inherent strengths because this is what successful people in every field do—they focus on their strengths, not their weaknesses.

This philosophy leads to a different treatment for children with ADHD. Don’t try to change the children. Change the way you teach them. Change their environment and expose them to opportunities for success. Provide avenues for them to express their gifts, talents and passions.

This past summer, the Raffinos sent Robbie to our Trailblazers™ Creativity Camp in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. Rather than spend our time figuring out ways to change Robbie, Celebrate!ADHD collaborated with the Raffinos to develop a Life Success Action Plan that works with Robbie’s nature. The positive results have affirmed the wisdom of this approach.

Robbie no longer takes Ritalin. According to Shelley Raffino, “Robbie said he feels good, feels like himself for the first time in months.” He’s less irritable and more relaxed with friends. And yes, the increased energy level is back.

To provide a healthy outlet for Robbie’s physical and mental energy, the Rafffinos have provided avenues for Robbie to express his creative gifts. He is taking guitar lessons and beginning to build a small, online business selling hand-made crafts. He is putting his energy into activities which breed confidence.

In the classroom, the Raffinos have partnered with Robbie’s teacher to accentuate his strengths. In order to more fully engage Robbie, his teacher is incorporating more hands-on activities, enlisting Robbie’s help in class and focusing assignments on subjects that interest him.

Robbie still has his struggles—as all people do—and his wiring presents challenges. But the Raffinos are thrilled with the changes. “It’s like we have our little boy back. He’s himself again, and that is priceless.”

September 13, 2005 (Washington, D.C.) – A day does not pass without families affected by Attention Deficit Disorder reading about the dire consequences and catastrophic results of ADHD.

Scan the headlines each day and you’d swear Attention Deficit Disorder were a deadly disease.

The prophets will speak in legion this week as we observe “National ADD Awareness Day.” As Executive Director of Celebrate!ADHD®, I urge children and adults with the symptoms of AD/HD to be diagnosed so that they can understand their unique wiring and develop a positive, proactive life plan to achieve success.

But this is not what happens.  Instead, families are warned of the ruin that awaits them and their children if they are not “treated,” which in most cases is synonymous with being medicated.

How often do doctors, psychiatrists and therapists entrusted with the education of parents explain (1) the positive advantages many children with ADHD possess and (2) how to work with their child’s nature in order to cultivate their gifts, strengths and passions?

The answer is never. How can we be so sure? This past summer, 150 families from across the country attending our Trailblazers™ Creativity Camp in the nation’s capital told us.

Not one parent had been told that their children did, indeed, possess advantageous qualities and character traits. Nor had they received a positive action plan.

Despite the fact that educators and learning specialists spent untold hours preparing an Individual Education Plan (IEP) for their children, not once had any professional taken the time to prepare a proactive Action Plan for cultivating their child’s natural gifts, talents and passions.

While critics claim that we are being irresponsible for celebrating “such a horrible disorder,” we believe that the prophets of doom and gloom are enveloping young children in a dark cloud of negativity that is far more harmful than the direct effects of ADHD itself.

What happens to the self-confidence and dignity of a young child when he is told by every adult that there is something wrong with him? How quickly does the obsessive focus on fixing his every weakness destroy his curiosity and development of his strengths? How can a child feel empowered when he is told he cannot be successful without the help of a pill that changes who he is?

We do not deny that children with ADHD face challenges and have definitive weaknesses. But so does everyone else. Most successful people in life leverage their strengths and compensate for their weaknesses. But society demands that children with ADHD deny their nature and learn like others.

How would the “normal” students fare if we demanded they be graded based on their ability to work independently; express tremendous energy while writing, painting creatively or designing complex structures; hyper-focus on projects for hours at a time?

Their parents would claim the requirements aren’t fair, that their kids aren’t wired to be creative, energetic leaders.

And yet we subject children with ADHD to a system which is hostile to their very nature—and then demand that they be medicated because they can’t or won’t conform.

Ironically, the very same prophets of doom who cannot bear to utter a positive word about children with ADHD are the same ones who extol the accomplishments of trailblazing leaders in the arts, science and business such as Galileo, Isaac Newton, Thomas Edison, Einstein, Monet, Michaelangelo and Spielberg.

Can you guess the irony? All of these leaders possess the same qualities as children with ADHD. Even more ironic? They owe their very success to the energy, creativity, innovation, passion and persistence afforded by ADHD.

The fact is that there would not be a need for Celebrate!ADHD if doctors, psychiatrists, therapists and educators would simply help parents and children develop a positive action plan to leverage the strengths of children with ADHD.

Parents sensing this void have flocked to our Camps and Workshops, hungry for a positive approach and a solid Life Success Action Plan. It isn’t brain surgery, it’s common sense.

So when you hear the dire warnings and see the negative cloud settling over your child, rest assured that there is another side to the story.

Understand how your child is wired differently. Harness the energy and creativity to leverage competitive advantages, and turn potential negatives into positives. Identify and cultivate natural gifts, talents and passions to build confidence. Teach your child how to use his intuition and sensitivity to understand people and develop strong friendships. Build a sense of purpose by showing your child how he can use his gifts to help others.

Keep celebrating children with ADHD. And, above all, take time to enjoy your child just as he is.

(openPR) - (Washington, D.C.) January 19, 2006 - Parents spend billions on ADHD treatments while overlooking the most effective prescription to help their children: changing their attitudes.

Many parents believe that prescription stimulants such as Ritalin, or even many natural treatments, are the key to helping children with ADHD succeed in school. Unfortunately, they do not realize that their constant negativity, harsh words and pessimistic attitude rob kids of their confidence.

According to Kirk Martin, Founder of educational organization Celebrate! ADHD, “Changing your attitude can have a profound effect on kids with ADHD. Positive affirmations and excitement about a child's future can instill a sense of belief that transcends difficulties.”

Often called the “Real Life ADHD Super Nanny” for his forays into “explosive households” to help families struggling with ADHD, Martin asserts the following:

· It is tragic that 75 of 100 kids who walk into a psychiatrist's office for the very first time walk out with a prescription in hand for stimulant medication to treat ADHD.

· Children are often medicated as a first option for the convenience of parents and teachers, who want to make kids with ADHD compliant and change their nature.

· Kids with ADHD don't need to be changed-Celebrate! ADHD has witnessed an 85% reduction in use of Ritalin by working with a child's nature instead of against it.

· Children with ADHD possess superior traits their peers do not possess. In fact, society desperately needs the energy, creativity, imagination, passion and persistence that only children with ADHD possess.

· The best writers, directors, actors, musicians and inventors have ADHD- eradicate ADHD and you may as well shut down Blockbuster, Barnes & Noble and Best Buy.

· Passionate, intuitive feelers such as Bono and Johnny Depp who thrive as performing artists-not to mention visionary innovators like iPod inventor Steve Jobs and Richard Branson-owe much of their success to the unique qualities that medication often numbs.

The gravest danger of overmedicating is destroying a child's self-worth. “Medicating our kids sends the insidious message that they are inferior and incapable of self-control,” Martin insists. “We should never tell our children that they can be successful only if we change who they are.”

Instead, parents should foster the advantageous qualities specifically afforded by ADHD. Cultivating a child's natural gifts, talents and passions can dramatically improve self-confidence, relationships and academic success.

“In the end,” Martin adds, “your attitude is the most potent prescription.”

Parents of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often cringe during the holidays. The expectation of presents and chaotic busyness can turn already energetic children into spinning tops.

Celebrate!ADHD, which provides positive solutions for families affected by ADHD, has developed a list of “5 Tips to Help Children with ADHD Enjoy Christmas.”

“Most families self-destruct and miss out on the spirit of the season,” says Celebrate!ADHD Founder Kirk Martin. “We think parents can make this the most special holiday season ever by working with their child’s nature, instead of against it.”

Martin recommends that parents take advantage of their child’s personality and learning style by following these five tips to enjoy a peaceful, meaningful Christmas.

1. Give your child less stuff and more time. More presents condition our kids to be unsettled and bored. Our kids crave one-on-one time. So instead of buying more toys with short life-spans, create lasting memories by giving coupons for experiences your child can enjoy with you.

2. Cultivate your child’s inner gifts, instead of focusing on buying gifts. The real treasure this Christmas should be found inside your child, not inside Best Buy. Confidence and a sense of purpose are built by reinforcing your child's natural gifts, talents and passions. Give presents that reinforce and develop your child’s gifts and talents—whether it is building (LEGOS), drawing (easel and pad) or being strategic (chess, board games).

3. Shower your child with praise, not presents. Our kids soak up positive reinforcement because they hear it so infrequently. Want to give a gift they will remember forever? Recognize and reward their positive qualities and catch them doing good things.

4. Make giving, not receiving, the centerpiece of your family’s traditions. Our kids have big, compassionate hearts and like to be part of something meaningful. So turn your family’s holiday efforts to the less fortunate.

5. Take a holiday from your stress and negativity. Spend the next few weeks building up your child. Say only positive statements. Reward progress, celebrate small wins. Expect the best and encourage your child to live up to higher expectations rather than down to low ones.

You may just be surprised how fun and meaningful the holiday season can be when you take advantage of your child’s creativity, gifts and talents and compassionate heart.

(openPR) - (Washington, D.C.) January 31, 2006 - Parents of children with ADHD, or Attention Deficit Disorder, are no different than other parents-they want their kids to be winners in life. Like all children, kids with ADHD face many unique challenges in life.

So what lessons can ADHD families learn from elite athletes preparing to battle for the Super Bowl Championship?

According to Kirk Martin, Founder of educational organization Celebrate! ADHD, “Children with ADHD possess many superior traits necessary for extraordinary achievements in the arts, sciences and business.” Martin provides parents with three tips to help their children become champions.

Play to Your Strengths.
What does every great Super Bowl team have in common? Successful coaches spend most of their time designing a game plan that utilizes their players' strengths. Parents can build winning kids by cultivating their child's natural gifts, talents and passions.

Sometimes parents of ADHD children fall into the trap of trying to fix all of their child's weaknesses instead of celebrating their talents. The result is frustration and shattered confidence. Don't try to make your children be like someone else. Help them be who they were born to be.

Cultivate A Winning Attitude.
Super Bowl Champions have the confidence and belief deep inside that they can be successful. Coaches are constantly telling them that they can win.

Children with ADHD are often surrounded with negativity and begin to expect failure.

Put your children in situations where they will succeed. Surround them with positive encouragement at home and school. Celebrate small victories and build momentum. Soon your child will believe in himself and think like a champion.

Create the Vision to Achieve A Larger Goal.
Hall-of-Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw, who has ADHD and won three Super Bowl rings, attributes his success to his ability to hyper-focus on large goals.

Kids with ADHD like to understand the “WHY” before they do the “WHAT.” They thrive when they have a large goal or project to work toward.

So remind your child of his larger goals in life-that he has a bright future ahead of him, and that with persistence and effort, he can overcome obstacles. Focus on purposeful activities-like getting a job, completing a special project or learning a new skill that will help your child achieve his dreams.

Martin insists, “As parents, we have the unique opportunity to cultivate our kids' amazing gifts and show them how to use their talents to create a special destiny. It works on the football field, at home and in the classroom.”