ADHD – 10 Brain-Based Learning Strategies You Can Use When Kids Go Off Their Medications

In 2006, the FDA (Federal Drug Administration) placed a black box warning on Ritalin, a common stimulant medication prescribed to children for ADHD. It appears that stimulant drugs were the cause of serious heart problems in 135 children, 81 of whom died.

Others said the numbers were considerably smaller. And to be fair, some of the kids had underlying heart problems, many of which had gone undiagnosed.

The numbers don’t matter. The death of a child remains a cause for serious concern. Up to 2 million children a month take these drugs. Some estimate that 2.5 million children use stimulant drugs. There are many children taking drugs. Starting stats, to put it mildly.

Then, in 2008, the American Heart Association said that children should have a standard heart test, an EKG (electrocardiogram), if their doctors thought they should take a stimulant medication for ADHD. It’s not a law, just a suggestion and some think it’s an overreaction. As a father and grandfather, I would certainly follow the EKG suggestion…even if insurance didn’t pay.

Now, before I continue with this story, please don’t take a child off their ADD medication or suggest that a parent do so. If you want to consider lowering a dose or stopping a child’s medication, you should talk to a doctor.

What does this story mean in terms of ADD behavior at home and in the classroom? I predict that anxious parents and doctors are going to take kids off their meds without bothering with an EKG.

What are we going to do with 2 million hyperactive children!

For years, we haven’t had to take responsibility for helping these kids or keep from going crazy trying to keep some sort of order in the classroom and at home. The drugs did it for us. Now we can be alone.

Here are ten brain-based learning tips to help you and your children cope with ADD:

1. Stop eating sugar, including drinking fruit juice. Cut back on bread and pasta, especially. the one made with processed white flour.

2. Limit TV and video games, especially TV and games that have a lot of flashing lights.

3. Help them get organized. Keep a schedule and be consistent.

4. Stop telling them to stay put. Their ability to do so is limited. Furthermore, movement is essential for learning. It’s an important brain-based learning strategy!

5. Practice deep breathing. Children can even be taught a simple form of meditation that is nothing more than watching the breath. Getting even more oxygen to the brain is a brain-based learning technique.

6. Cross your right ankle over your left, and then give yourself a hug by crossing your arms over your body, left over right. Reduces stress on the central nervous system. Try it yourself.

7. Get enough sleep. Put the children to bed earlier.

8. Exercise, play, run, jump, insist on recess, sp. “free” recess where children choose what to do versus structured play.

9. Do Brain Gym® (See http://www.braingymclasses.com) Not a few children have stopped taking their medications or at least reduced the dosage by doing Brain Gym. Another very effective brain-based learning strategy.

10. Eat more foods with Omega-3 fatty acids like wild salmon, sardines, tuna, flaxseed, flaxseed oil. Take fish oil supplements. (Find mercury-free tuna. Look at your health food store.) Omega-3 fatty acids increase dopamine production just like Ritalin and other stimulant drugs do. Brain-based learning includes what we feed our brains and how that food affects neurotransmitters in the brain.

Pick two or three strategies from this list of brain-based learning strategies and see what happens! I guess you’ll notice an improvement! Less ADD behavior.