U.S. high schools and middle schools should start classes later in the morning to allow kids some much-needed sleep, a leading group of pediatricians is urging. Ideally, the American Academy of Pediatrics says, the first bell should ring at 8:30 a.m. or later -- which is the case at only...

Researchers report that children with autism appear to have excess synapses -- cellular connections -- in their brains compared with typical children. The scientists also believe it might be possible to reduce the number of extra synapses through drug treatment. Synapses are the points in...

High school football players are more likely to lose consciousness after concussions if they get hit at the top of the head compared to the sides, back or front, according to a new study. And nearly half of all concussions suffered by high school players occur from player-to-player...

Mental health coaching may help diabetes patients with depression and with lowering their blood sugar levels, a new study suggests. Many people with diabetes suffer depression, which can interfere with their ability to manage their diabetes through monitoring blood sugar levels, being...

Andrew was 10 years old and in the fifth grade when I first evaluated him. He was diagnosed with ADHD in first grade and had been taking medication since that time. Andrew did well in first through third grades. But he struggled through fourth grade, and was having greater academic problems in the fifth grade.

During my...

Children diagnosed with depression as preschoolers are likely to suffer from depression as school-age children and young adolescents, new research shows. The investigators followed 246 children, now ages 9 to 12, who were enrolled in the study as preschoolers when they were 3 to 5 years...

Parents don't have to lecture and torture their children to teach them social skills. I use an approach that's a lot more fun than shouting "How many times have I told you?"

It's a game called Family Fable Time. Here's how it works: Mom, Dad, or a child chooses a behavior that he or she wants to tell a story about. The story...

Young children with strong reading skills may be on a fast track to a brighter future, a new study suggests. Kids with above average reading skills may have higher intelligence levels as they get older, according to British researchers. The study included 1,890 identical twins from Great...

We sat at the kitchen table for hours with M&Ms, colored toothpicks, pennies, and other items that might hold our daughter's attention to improve her math skills. We explained, encouraged, and rewarded. We invested in every color, shape, and size of flash card. We helped her make her own personalized sets of cards....

To meet the needs of students who easily master new concepts, Lake Valley Elementary School will initiate a school-wide gifted cluster model when school begins in August. Traditionally in Humboldt Unified School District elementary schools, gifted students receive more complex lessons...

Adding access to a computer tablet to traditional therapy may help children with autism talk and interact more, new research suggests. The study compared language and social communication treatment -- with or without access to an iPad computer tablet -- in 61 young children with an autism...

Most children and adults with ADHD have lots of negative thoughts. These thoughts come from many places. Some come from what other people have told them about themselves — "You're no good!" "Why can't you ever listen?" Others originate from experiences in which they are frustrated at home or at work. A person thinks, "I'm s...

"Do something!" the distraught mother yelled as her child, who had been hit by a car, lay in the road. Jack heard the screams, jumped over the fence in his backyard, and ran to the accident. He dialed 911 on his cell phone while his free hand ripped his T-shirt off. Kneeling next to the child, he handed his phone to someone...

ADDitude asked: "What would you like your child to learn in the new school year?"

Cursive, so his thoughts can get from mind to page quicker. — Robert, Georgia

How to interact with his teachers and peers. My son will turn 13 soon, and because of his normal teenage awkwardness, he needs to fine-tune his social skills. I watch...

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For some families, a medical diagnosis for their child puts things in perspective. Parents understand the problems, and start to address them. Clarity about the challenges offers hope for improvement, and parents embrace treatment as a step toward a "cure."

That was not my experience as a young parent. My daughter's life was...

"Hi. My name is Joyce. I make a lot of mistakes. But don't worry, you'll get used to it." For 30 years that was who I thought I was. Not surprisingly, my life was filled with guilt and anger.

As adults with ADHD, we make excuses, blame others, and get defensive. We hope that giving unsolicited information will make people...

How Would You Feel If...

ages 6 and up (iOS, $1.99)

How Would You Feel If... poses that question in 56 different life situations designed to lead to discussions of a child's reaction and feelings. Each illustrated "card" asks a question, such as, "How would you feel if your favorite football team lost?" The appropriate and...

ADDitude asked readers to share their dreams for the future.

I would love to open a charter school that helps ADHD kids function at their best. — Gina, Comment posted online

That I live to see my two sons grow up into positive, well-mannered, well-educated, financially stable, hard-working men who are in beautiful, healthy, and...

Bobby is smart and sneaky. He knows how to get into locked-up computers. It's easy. When the computer owner — me — steps away from the machine, he rushes over and hits "control panel." From there, he can set up what we around here call the "guest account."

Our Bobby has ADHD, but this isn't ADHD behavior. This is something...