Schools Kill Creativity (video)

Educate the Whole Being

Sir Ken Robinson, speaking at TED inspires us to change our disembodied educational system in ways that celebrate the gift of Human Imagination.  Dancing and art have a profound influence on intelligence.  According to Sir Ken, formalized education strip mines the mind…Enjoy this fun video and take the message to heart.  Insist on frequent, vibrant movement at every grade level, during every subject!

ADHD article is really an AD?

Medications are suggested – but why?

EverydayHealth.com posts excellent articles on pressing topics such as Lesley Alderman’s Rise of ADHD.  I rarely include their articles on my blog because solutions, written in their articles or shown on the side panels, involve medications.  This Body Brain BOOGIE blog posts many natural, non-drug ways to harness ADHD, using ADHD tendencies to maximize learning in a healthy way.

ADHD and Bipolar Disorder Research

May lead to better diagnosis and treatment

Researchers distinguish between ADHD and Pediatric Bipolar Disorder using fMRI brain imaging at the brain network level.  This research from the University of Illinois at Chicago may lead to better diagnosis and treatment.  Dr. Mani Pavuluri and John Sweeney co-authored the study.

NOTE:  Go back through this Body Brain Boogie blog and find articles showing natural (non-drug) ways to treat these neurological deficits.

Low Grades Linked to Dopamine Genes

Enhance Dopamine Naturally – Will this Remedy ADHD?

Newswise reports research showing genetic causes lower dopamine that can result in ADHD, depressive disorders, poor memory, etc.  Why not use natural, non drug remedies, boosting dopamine with certain foods, exercise, sleep and more, according to LiveStrong.com?  Alexis Writing contributing to eHow.com reinforces the natural approach.  See the related articles and videos.  Once again exercise prevails.  Does this suggest natural remedies for ADHD?  Good question; ask your doctor if already taking drugs to be safe.  Important.

Exercise and Improved Learning (video)

Brain science produces results!   Exercise is essential!

Dr. John Ratey, author of SPARK: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, speaking to Steven Palkin on The Agenda TV program cites research and positive results of exercise on enhanced learning and effective remedy for attention deficit, aggression, mood disorders, anxiety, and depression. For a more complete discussion, listen to Dr. Ratey’s talk at Authors at Google.

Top 10 Myths about ADHD

Read this article and decide on the 'real' ADHD myth

The first thing I notice as I am reading this article by Jean Rothman on the EverydayHealth website is the Concerta ad above the article, stating “Manage your child’s ADHD symptoms this school year.” Another ad adjacent to the headline says, “Get a FREE Trial.” Start reading this article and notice how many points are made justifying medication to treat ADHD. Notice how many more drug ads are posted along the side and bottom of this article. Are they trying to sell you something?

Now go back and read Thom Hartmann’s article yesterday and Thomas Armstrong’s previous article on this blog giving a different perspective. You tell me… what approach do you want to take… meds or a natural one, accommodating ADHD giftedness?

Be careful, if you or your child is taking meds, a guided approach needs to be taken before removing the drug. Talk with a specialist working with natural dietary, self-management and movement approaches before easing off.

ADD Isn’t the Problem

Attention Deficit Disorder -- a Different Perspective

Thom Hartmann, author of six books on Attention Deficit Disorder takes exception to the seriousness of ADD and ADHD. He insists that poor science casts a negative image on children, giving them a learning defect, when in reality it is the assembly-line, conveyer-belt schools that are dysfunctional. Take ADD and ADHD students out of this constrained setting and watch their learning genius and self-worth excel. Thank you Whole Family website for offering this article which is strangely absent from leading websites counseling parents about ADD.

LD Remedy… We Hold the Key!

Helping People… Unlock their Potential

Living and Learning… Movement is Central!

Neuro-education connecting Neuroscientific research and learning suggests the most effective ways to optimize body brain cells and systems to boost attention, sharpen focus, heighten motivation, enhance learning performance skills, and extend memory.

But what if, despite our good intentions and diligent work, these methods don’t work?

Then take a step backwards and return to the basics, helping the challenged learner retool their sensory, processing and motor systems that may be struggling. One or multiple systems might be involved, including the visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, reflex, tactile, proprioceptive, and vestibular systems.

Let’s explore each of these systems over the next few months. Discover what people are doing to mature the sensory input system, brain processing/memory system, and motor output system called upon to express learning through talking, writing, art, music, sport, and other life-enhancing performance skills – this will be great fun!

Pump Dopamine Naturally

Use your body to pump this essential brain-boosting chemical

Good-feeling dopamine is a pleasure/reward neurochemical that boosts attention, raises motivation, and orchestrates the prefrontal cortex – the executive brain that focuses on learning and minimizes impulsivity. Stimulant drugs are sometimes prescribed to help people diagnosed with ADD and ADHD produce more dopamine. Brisk, large muscle movements do the same, especially aerobic exercise.

Daily physical education, morning and afternoon recess, frequent physical activity breaks, and subject matter taught with movement will get dopamine pumping naturally.

This is a great fix for frittering minds!

Note: The Health Care-toon shown above is taken from the Health Care-toon Calendar, 365 Ways to Look and Feel Great by cartoonist Ed Fischer and Jeff Haebig. Visit WellnessQuest.com for a daily Health Care-toon and related wellness ideas.

Train Your Brain with Exercise

Make yourself smarter with aerobic workouts

Jean Lawrence writing for WebMD summarizes current research showing how exercise combats ADHD naturally, calms hyperactivity, grows new brain cells with added BDNF, releases pleasure chemicals key to memory and motivation, and helps remedy depression, fatigue and stress. Dr. John Ratey is quoted, “Exercise is really for the brain, not the body.” No wonder daily physical education in school is key to maximizing learning potential.

Myth of ADD

Look at ADHD in a new light with natural solutions

Dr. Thomas Armstrong is author of 13 books including 7 Kinds of Smart and The Myth of the A.D.D. Child, 50 Ways to Improve Your Child’s Behavior and Attention Span Without Drugs, Labels or Coercion. His website offers his books and articles worth pursuing. I like how Thomas Armstrong uses positive, natural, wellness-based approaches to build each child’s ultimate worth.

Isn’t it strange that leading websites addressing ADD and ADHD fail to mention Thomas Armstrong and his natural methods of remedying behavioral and learning problems? They also fail to mention how brisk exercise boosts dopamine levels in the pre-frontal cortex, alleviating much of the problem. Medications are suggested.

Alternative Therapies from A to Z

Dozens of natural (non-drug) therapies for LD

Karen Johnson and Jodee Kulp have briefly described dozens of natural non-drug approaches to help remediate learning challenges. It is one impressive list offered by Tool Box Parent.

Exercise ADHD Away

How Exercise Helps With ADHD Symptoms

Everyday Health features an article by Jean Rothman citing reasons why aerobic exercise helps people with ADHD. Don't be distracted by the CONCERTA drug ad for ADHD above and flashing to the side of this insightful article. Focus on how aerobics increases levels of dopamine and serotonin, naturally. Hats off to CONCERTA for making a concerted effort letting people know there are natural means to better sleep, improved focus, less depression, improved eating, stress management, less impulsivity, and a boost of attention.