I think it’s quite cruel that at a time when a teenager is bursting with hormones, desperate to be out with their tribe and beginning to find a bit of independence, they are burdened with the outdated practice of taking GCSE exams. Exams are rubbish. They do not measure the things that matter like kindness, curiosity or being a good citizen. Exams rely heavily on regurgitation of facts, focus and memory. So of course there is push back when during the Easter holidays, when the world is waking up from its Winter slumber and daffodils are nodding in the breeze, we are expecting our teens to sta ..read more

What is success and how can you help your child with ADHD to feel successful? This is not a trick question. I honestly want to know. Does success = happiness? Perhaps. Perhaps it depends how we measure and value success. As defined by Wikipedia Success is the state or condition of meeting a defined range of expectations So we need to have certain expectations in place before we can judge if we are successful or not. In this blog, I want to examine what is success for our young people with ADHD and how we can support them to achieve their goals and make them feel successful. ACADEMIC SUCCESS ..read more

We are in the 21st Century and the genie is well and truly out of the bottle. Technology has exploded into our lives and we are all reliant on digital devices that entertain and control some aspect of our day-to-day living. Our children with ADHD are using screens to partake in gaming, watching videos and sport, connecting and communicating or checking out funny memes on social media. Screens are compelling. They are designed to be addictive, sweeping us into the next thing. Whether it is on a phone, Xbox, iPad, Gameboy, tablet or laptop. An ADHD brain is craving interest, excitement and a do ..read more

Yesterday my life changed. My darling boy has emigrated. He was unhappy and wanted a new challenge. London and the UK wasn’t doing it for him anymore. On the surface he had it good – job with a steady income, loyal friends, loving family, faithful dog, great flat mates. But inside he was sad. Nothing or no one could help. So back in the Summer he made a quick (impulsive?) decision to quit everything he knew and try something different. Bravo to him and his tenacity, determination and perseverance to keep striving and moving forward. He has followed in his sister’s footsteps to discover wheth ..read more

Over in my Facebook group ADHD Warrior Squad, I am reading too often about confrontation within the family. This is so sad. Parents are exhausted, children are unhappy, siblings are furious, relationships have broken down and nobody wins. So what are the confrontations about? Usually screens, homework, chores, hygiene, trouble at school and going out. Sounds familiar? A bit of science stuff…. First, a reminder why your child with ADHD may be struggling. ADHD is real. It is not an excuse or a made up reason to explain laziness or rudeness. We know this from MRI scans which show an ADHD brains ..read more

Over these past couple of days I have been saddened and shocked in equal measure. I have been reading multiple reports from parents about how their children, who have an ADHD diagnosis, are being treated at school. Read on and weep… A teenager being told to move away from a friendship group or he is likely to be excluded. A parent is being fined for her daughter’s non-attendance despite the mum attempting every day to get her daughter to school. A 6 year old missing her breaks because she hasn’t completed her work. A teacher writing a report about a pupil “he is unconcerned about the lack of ..read more

“Mrs Lazarus, can I have a quick word?” So I walked down the steps to the school playground to the awaiting teacher. The walk of shame. The other parents shaking their heads and tut tutting but with a silent prayer being thankful that their child was such an angel (or perhaps that was just my perception). School was tough for my son. It didn’t suit him. Too many restrictions, boundaries and rules. Too often our children with ADHD find themselves in trouble at school. Being shouted at, told off, sent out of class, in detention, isolation, may be being restrained and the final act of humiliatio ..read more

I am absolutely delighted that the BBC today featured a report about failing to diagnose ADHD in young girls and the disastrous consequences. We know that ADHD is a neurological condition that affects 3% – 5% of children in the UK according to NHS England. Yet too many girls and women are misdiagnosed or struggle on without help and support. Why do girls get missed? The most common understanding of ADHD is of little boys jumping up and down, blurting out something inappropriate, interrupting and unable to keep still. That is a great description of Impulsive + Hyperactive (Combined) ADHD type ..read more

I think it’s all about perception. What do you see? Do you see a magical, mystical, beautiful creature? Capable of flight, dreams and fantasy. Or do you see a white horse with a horn stuck on it’s head with ridiculous pastel colours and random glitter? Same picture. Different ways of seeing and noticing. Now let’s think about our beautiful children with ADHD. What do you think some teachers may see? They may notice the unwanted behaviour and just see the negative. They may notice a child who is daydreaming and not paying attention. Or a child who is jumping out of their seat constantly. Or ..read more

The jump from Primary to Secondary School is massive. Your child goes from an environment where you know all the faces in their class, you recognise the parents of their peers and you know who their one teacher is. Compare that to Secondary School where you no longer know who your child is hanging around with, you’ve no idea who their teachers are (note the plural) and you haven’t the foggiest how to even contact the support department. So if you’re feeling a bit daunted, think how your child is feeling…. Perhaps a uniform that feels awkward and stiff, an array of books and folders that weigh ..read more