Equal and Different

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Equal and Different |

ADHD versus Gifted |

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A brief description of the differences and similarities between certain aspects of the lives of an ADHD child and a gifted, high IQ child in both the school and home environments. |

“To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.” Children are different in many ways and each requires their own individual style of upbringing. However, raising two drastically different children in the same household, such as a developmentally challenged child with ADHD and a mentally advanced child with a high IQ, also requires consistency, since each is unique yet share many similarities. Raising children who are mentally and chemically different requires proper nutrition, set organization of schedules and personal items, and a firm action/consequence plan in the home and school environments.

It is important that every child receive proper nutrition. At home and at school, each child needs to receive foods from the “Food Pyramid” that will help them develop to their full potential. They need proper serving sizes and nutritional drinks. Many fruits and vegetables should be incorporated into their daily diets. However, special circumstances need to be considered. At home, a child who has ADHD should not have sugars and caffeine. With this in mind, they should have a limited diet of items such as candies, chips, sodas, and teas. At school, a child with ADHD should be allowed to have a small nutritional snack to help with concentration levels. A consistent lunch menu needs to be available to children with ADHD to increase their attention span and their ability to focus. A child with a high IQ does not need such a rigid nutritional plan. Obviously the nutritional standards should be adhered to, but flexibility can be allowed. At home, they may be allowed to have sugars and caffeine in moderation. Moderation will help keep weight maintained and sleep schedules followed. At...