| Many people are completely against placing labels | | | | is that you don't abuse the label. You must never |
| on children such as OCD, ADHD, etc. Some say | | | | use it as an excuse or a crutch. It should never |
| that putting this kind of negative label on a child | | | | be a negative label. You can't tell a child that their |
| sets them up for failure and damages their self | | | | ADHD makes them act badly. You also can't tell a |
| esteem and sense of self worth. Another concern | | | | child that their behavior is acceptable because |
| is that placing labels on children may cause other | | | | they are ADHD. It is still important to teach |
| people to treat them differently. | | | | children which behaviors are acceptable and which |
| While many people have very valid points about | | | | behaviors are not acceptable and that every |
| the negative impacts of placing labels on children, | | | | action has a consequence. |
| parents have the tough decisions of deciding and | | | | Placing labels on children such as ADHD should be |
| acting upon what is in the best interest of their | | | | used to help the child learn how their brain is |
| child. For example, when the preschool teacher | | | | different from yours and how they can cope with |
| requests a parent teacher conference and | | | | the differences. It is important for a child to |
| explains that their child all of a sudden reached | | | | understand why they do the things they do and |
| over and clawed another kid's face bad enough to | | | | how to control those behaviors. For example, an |
| draw blood and then immediately burst into tears | | | | ADHD child may have ticks or involuntary |
| and said "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to," how does a | | | | movements that they can't control. While many |
| parent explain that? | | | | people find this annoying and tell them to stop, |
| Actions like that these days are grounds for | | | | you may hear the child say "I tell them to stop |
| suspension and expulsion from local schools leaving | | | | but my brain won't listen." This is a good sign that |
| parents with very few options. However, if the | | | | this is beyond their control. |
| child is truly ADHD, for example, these impulsive | | | | When an ADHD child gets upset because he |
| actions are explained by the label itself. One of | | | | wants to do good and doesn't want to upset |
| the many symptoms of ADHD is impulsiveness | | | | people but his impulsiveness or his ticks just won't |
| and this isn't something a 4 year old is going to be | | | | stop, it may help him to understand that it is |
| able to control on his own. Placing labels on children | | | | beyond his control and that it's not his fault. It's |
| can sometimes enable parents to educate | | | | important for him to know that he's not doing |
| teachers and other role models and help them to | | | | anything wrong and that this is just the way he |
| better handle the child setting them up for the | | | | was designed and it's not a bad thing. Placing labels |
| best possible chance of success. | | | | on children can sometimes help them understand |
| The important thing about placing labels on children | | | | themselves better and that can't be a bad thing. |