Tag: ADHD

How to Improve Memory and Relish its Importance in Daily Life

by Dr Angel Adams and Dr Patricia Papciak

There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance.
(Hamlet Act IV, Scene V)

Rosemary herb plant

From the encyclopaedia we learn that memory is the brain’s ability to store, retain and recall information. It was originally a topic that was studied by philosophers, but in the 20th century psychologists studied memory, and it fell into the field of cognitive psychology or cognitive neuroscience. Memory can be looked at from many angles, but it is the combination of short and long-term memory that we are interested in when we are looking at our own learning progress or hoping for our children’s success. Read more

Prepare Your Mind for the Life You Imagine

by Dr Angel Adams and Dr Patricia Papciak

If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and endeavours to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.

-Henry David Thoreau-

Last Spring I was delighted to watch two robins in my garden, a mother and father, who were busily planning and preparing for the birth of their offspring. They were building an elaborate nest in my garden shed in the back of one of my old cardboard storage boxes. I felt honoured that they chose my shed as their venue for starting a new family. Planning and preparing are actually two very important cognitive functions that make up a group of what we call executive functions (EF). These advanced mental tasks include strategising, organising, setting goals, and paying attention to the important details that will help us achieve those goals. This is what gets us down to business even when we’d rather just hang out and tweet in the garden or on-line for that matter. Mr and Mrs Robin were busy working at achieving their goal. Read more

Building Parent-Teacher Relationships

by Dr Angel Adams, Dr Patricia Papciak

It’s not what is poured into a student that counts, but what is planted

-Linda Conway-

Image: Photo of green plant shoots

It’s been about a month since school started again after the summer holiday. Your child has changed teachers, or schools, and new ideas have set swirling in their minds. They have reconnected with friends and generally pass the day in a pleasant way that enriches them. For the parents of those kids who are content and settled, this makes life easier for them.

For parents of children with special needs however, life is not so easy. Read more

How to Cultivate Patience

I'm late, I'm late! Does this sound familiar? We live in a world where our schedules are hectic and today's technology bombards us constantly. It seems more difficult then ever to cultivate patience when we are accustomed to and reinforced for having things instantly available. In addition, we often feel pressure to react immediately to interruptions from our e-mail, phone calls, or texting. As a result we resort to multi-tasking to decrease the impact of being overwhelmed from all of this while juggling family, work and social relations. There is a downside to multitasking.

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Parenting a Child with ADHD: The Challenges and the Joys

“You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.” — Kahlil Gibran

Parents who have children with ADHD love them, as they are usually quirky, think outside the box, are straight forward with their feelings, energetic, charming, and creative. Parents also know that they can be demanding, fiery, and very difficult to raise. Sometimes parents can feel shattered and helpless and don’t know where to turn. Read more