How to help prevent ADHD in your child

As I said in my recent Examiner.com article, http://www.examiner.com/x-13955-Kansas-City-Gifted-Children-Examiner,

Thinking that ADHD is all genetic is a cop-out. Just like IQ is only about 50% genetic, the main causes of ADHD are the environmental triggers. Experts like neurologist Dr. Michael Merzenich have shown that too much noise (TV, radio, traffic), too many flashing lights (TV and video games), and too much all around stimulus triggers brain overload. In young children, this can be devastating. It can trigger the brain to release chemicals that shut down the proper brain functioning too soon.

A recent article in the April issue of the magazine Common Ground, "The brain under siege" by Lee Gerdes, starts with, “Young people everywhere are being diagnosed with attention deficit disorder. In the United States, eight percent of children ages four through 17 are diagnosed with ADHD. Among adults, the percentage is between 2.9 and 4.4. However, it is believed that only a third to as much as a fifth of cases of ADHD are diagnosed. This wasn’t the case just a couple of generations ago. Why is attention deficit so prevalent today?” http://www.commonground.ca/iss/225/cg225_brain.shtml

Brains need down time, quiet time, meditation time, on a regular basis. Parents can help prevent triggering ADHD in their children by turning off the TV, limiting video games, turning off the radio, and not living next to a busy highway or interstate. This is especially true for infants and young children under 6 years old, when the most brain neuron mapping and growth is occurring. Visits to peaceful nature areas is refreshing and rejuvenating for the brain, body, and soul.

In Kansas City, spring and summer are great times to visit nature farms and reserves. To see what’s available in this area, go to http://www.visitkc.com/things-to-do/index.aspx

Related articles:

Spark your child's brain, http://www.examiner.com/x-13955-Kansas-City-Gifted-Children-Examiner~y2009m6d27-Spark-your-childs-brain-with-scientific-learning

Dyslexia and autism in gifted children, http://www.examiner.com/x-13955-Kansas-City-Gifted-Children-Examiner~y2009m8d6-Gifted-savants-may-struggle-with-dyslexia-or-autism-part-1

Teach your child to read before kindergarten, http://www.examiner.com/x-13955-Kansas-City-Gifted-Children-Examiner~y2009m11d27-Why-should-you-teach-your-child-to-read-before-kindergarten

A child's best window of learning, http://www.examiner.com/sitemaps/x-13955-Kansas-City-Gifted-Children-Examiner~y2009m7d2-Catching-a-childs-window-of-learning-for-brainmapping-neurons

They keys to having a gifted child, http://www.examiner.com/x-13955-Kansas-City-Gifted-Children-Examiner~y2009m9d25-Prevention-and-phonics-are-the-keys-to-having-a-gifted-child?cid=exrss-Kansas-City-Gifted-Children-Examiner

Develop your baby's mind properly, http://www.examiner.com/x-13955-Kansas-City-Gifted-Children-Examiner~y2009m9d4-Using-the-right-flashcard-methods-to-develop-your-babys-mind

The Godfrey Method, http://godfreymethod.com/default.aspx