Parental Filter

Now here is something that is an easy fix.

When my nephew was about 9 years old, he had serious troubles concentrating and was disruptive in class. So what do the teachers do? They suggest to the parents that they give him some ritalin to calm him down.

Come on people, not only are they to lazy to do their job and try and control the kids like teachers have been doing before all these drugs came out, but now they are 'prescribing' medications for something that does not necessarily need it.

A kid is restless, give him ritalin
A kid is noisy, give him ritalin
A kid runs around, give him ritalin

When does this stop?

Have you heard about the study where a huge percentage of kids responded just as well to more sleep as they did to ritalin, which is after all a stimulant? I'm amazed at the time kids go to bed around here. Elementary school students need at least 11 hours of sleep, but very few get that. Instead, they are cranky at school, where the teachers have to rely on medications to keep the students from driving them batty.

I'm not saying this is your nephew, but I would definitely suggest that the parents move his bedtime up an hour or two before going the drug route. What do they have to lose?

What technoflutemom says is true. Lack of sleep can cause some serious behavior problems in children.
If this is not what is causing his issuse I think that I would look into behaviour therapy before I would put him on anything.

It goes without saying that other methods should be tired before medication is used.

Sometimes parents are very accustomed to behaviors occurring at home, but are too disruptive in the classroom. Everything must be weighted carefully before any final decisions are made.

In the past, those students who could not pay attention and proved resistant to classroom discipline, were paddled. When that option was removed, or proved ineffective, the student was placed in a special education classroom where the structure was more severe. This happens currently, but probably not as often as it should.

If I had the choice between Ritalin and special education, I would opt for ritalin. I have worked in the classrooms with those who weren't on medication. I would definitely choose the meds.

I agree with the admin here that teachers in primary schools very often take the easy road out and blame the children and their behavior, instead of concentrating on their teaching methods.

one thing i would like to point out about medication is that..dont over do it..or else there wont be any effect later..

first try therapy and the like..

Medication is the lazy temporary response. Medication doesn't cure problems in how the child behaves long term. We need to stop doping our kids and spend more time with them, teaching them how to build constructive lives. How can we teach our kids to say no to drugs and them slap them with a pill every time we can't handle their behavior?

Kids do need alot of rest to be ready for school the next morning. I think that the teachers should try some other methods before suggesting medication. That just seems out of place for a teacher to recommend that. I haven't heard to many good things about Ritalin so I would definitely not put any of my kids on it.

I also have family where their kids have been prescribed ritaline for the slightest signs of abnormalities. I agree completely with the OP. Doctors prescribe medications way too freely for kids now.

It's a general symptom of the society we live in. Everyone is looking for the quick and easy fix. There are muchg more effective coping mechanisms to help children concentrate than simply drugging them up. Of course that would take a little effort so it is not as desirable as the pill.