has anyone else noticed how people think if their child is misbehaving they must have ADHD?

I agree entirely and when some go on to talk of medicating young children (as a *first* option!) that is a disgrace.

I agree ADHD/ADD can exist but it is over/misdiagnosed these days and is a way of *labelling* children by "experts" so parents don't have to look at their own parenting.

*All* of my boys could have been so labelled at some point I am sure but they were simply being boys and I dealt with such behaviour by discipline and having them let off steam healthily by having them in the cubs and scouts,sports teams and so on following on from having them take healthy excercise in the park,having proper bedtimes and diet when they were little.

If they threw a major tantrum for no good reason I didn't drug them - I gave them a smack and then told them that such behaviour wouldn't be tolerated - that was an instant cure and saved them from growing up into teenagers who thought that drugs or consulting "experts" were the answer to all things.

Edit : I think that we agree on many things as I noticed in the past when I first joined Y!A and linked to you.I *did* block you some months back when things were getting out of hand on here because of *my* views and I felt upset.I see a *few* are still trying to do that to me but you are certainly not blocked any more! (I saw your answer to another question that dragged me into the frame for no reason).

Yes! I've noticed it far more in real life than on here, it's just ridiculous. Never mind that a child's diet consists solely of artificial colourings, sugar and preservatives, they receive no discipline, and the parents don't seem to notice what they're doing wrong, the child must have ADHD. I can't stand seeing children off their heads on drugs when all they really need is some good parenting. Plus people have crazy expectations now, if a child runs around yelling for half an hour, they're hyperactive, not just an active child letting off steam!

I've taught special needs, and worked in childcare, and I've seen my share of genuine ADHD cases, but I've also known personally too many children who only have ADHD around their parents!

I agree totally. I live in an area where we seem to have a loads of parents who think this. ANd do you know what? They usually end up getting disability living allowance at a higer rate than the genuine cases. These parents need to take responsibility and start managing the behaviour of their kids who 9 times out of 10 just need firm but fiar handling, niot a bloody label to get extra money! Most parents who have a child with a disability would rather not have the disability living allowance and the label. But they need the extra money for certain pieces of equipment or the extra fuel for the car to go to lots of doctors appointments. Why non earth would these parents want all this when they dont need it?

i have been there with 2 of my kids. one is very smart and has been referred to as so smart it's scary and he would get up and wonder around the classroom looking at the pets they had but yet get straight A's! i was the same way in school and still am! they watched to be sure he wasnt cheating and he wasnt. that is a form of ADD however we never medicated him because he wasnt a problem. now another son is just flat out an a**hole and yes i can call him that cause he is my kid and all it would take is 20 minutes 4 u to call him that. he drives the world nuts and is not able to sit still either. this one finally after me fighting it for 6 years got medication. we couldnt handle him anymore. it seems like they always point to ADD anytime a kid is interfering with an easy school day. i hate to say it but i think alot of it is raising. i went to the class a few times and i noticed something odd about all the kids.i realized after meeting the parents omg they ALL either drank all the time or did drugs! that convienced me it is raising! i do no drugs or drink but honestly im not a great parent but try. instead of spanking i have always yelled and that dont work. but it is odd everyone one of those kids have unsupervising parents. thats the problem. little guideness and most of those our kids would be fine.

My son's teacher told me she thought my son had ADHD and of course, knowing that he can get a little silly sometimes I took him straight to paediatrician who sent me to a specialist child psycologist who over 6 visits tested his IQ and many other things.

At the end of it (and alot of money later) he does not have ADHD at all. In fact, he just normal 9 year old boy.

I think the problem is that all the parents that just rush off and get the medication to "control" their children have made it so that the kids that really do have the condition unfortunately end up with the same label.

I think these people just prefer to be able to call it ADHD than accept responsibility for bad parenting.

Don't get me started on this one.

I agree with you totally. Kids play up all the time, give them dicepline and they will stop.

In a local magazine they had an article about ADHD and 10 signs to see if your child has it. Well my son had 9 out of those 10 but he isn't even close to me thinking he has it.

He is a normal boy, back when I was his age, my mum said I was the same. Loud and always jumping around. Thats better then sitting in front of the tv playing games and grunting at your parents.

The solution to most "I think my kid is ADD" parents (in my opinion) is:

STRUCTURE and DIET!

Have a set, early bedtime suitable for their age, not whenever. Have a routine that's regular and predictable a majority of the time. And layoff the fast food, sugar and caffien, do the old fashioned home cooked, nightly family dinners.

I'm not saying this is true for all, there are kids who are truly ADD or ADHD, but most just need some basics and they'll do sooo much better.

i think that adhd is over diagnosed. People don't know what it really is when they say their child may have it. may years of my life were spent as a children's therapist. I have seen over a hundred children and out of those only 5-10 truly had adhd. some doctors are just quick to sign the paperwork and a lot of the parents just wanted to get a disability check for their child.

My son is 3 years-old and he has an extraordinary amount of energy. I find it more irritating during the winter months when he is cooped up. He was also sick off and on for over a month so he is even more rambunctious now. I do not believe in drugging kids just because it makes them easier to handle. Sending them outside for exercise does more to help them calm down.

You do NOT need to take a child to a psychologist. Just be a parent and discipline your child. Children that are not disciplined turn into little monsters.

It's great for pharmecuetical companies to make more money!

Think about, twenty years ago ADD and ADHD did not survive because parents back then weren't afraid of a good spanking unlike today where everyone points the finger at the parents and accuses them of child abuse. I spanking will do, punching will not. Some people need to learn the difference!