Summer break is a great time to engage children in developing their meal plan.  This is a great way to teach them about healthy eating. A study by UCLA School of Medicine states, “We now know that particular nutrients influence cognition by acting on molecular systems or cellular processes that are vital for maintaining cognitive function”. Helping your ADHD child create healthy eating habits may improve their overall focus and ability to improve cognitive skills.

Here are some ideas on how you can integrate learning and nutrition to help prevent “summer brain drain” this year:

• ·Read some story books with your child that are based on nutrition. There are many fun books for children on healthy eating. There are also nutritional guides for teens that are designed to keep their attention and simplify healthy eating.
• ·Teach your child about the vitamins...

Social skills and building relationships can be a challenge for children and adults with ADHD.  Issues with social skills usually stem from the inability to pay attention to social cues that others take for granted. They also are challenged with impulsivity that leads to a multitude of difficulties, from hurting someone’s feelings unintentionally to acting out in a physical manner.  These challenges can cause turmoil in the school, home, and workplace.

ADDitude magazine has a great article that discusses how the lack of executive function can have a negative impact on social skills.

 How ADHD’s Executive Dysfunctions Impact Behavior

" Certainly there are times when a child seems stubborn or selfish, but neuroscience suggests that it is a lack of skills, specifically the brain-based “executive function” skills, that hold him back — not willfulness or...

Hydration research by the National Institute of Health says: “Water, or its lack, can influence cognition. Mild dehydration impacts important aspects of cognitive function such as concentration, alertness, and short-term memory.”

In the past, health professionals have told us that we need eight 8-oz glasses of water per day. Ongoing research has stated that this is not based on concrete evidence, and there are too many variables that can affect your personal hydration. These variables range from body size, environment, amount of exercise, age, and diet. It’s better to go by two rules, drinking water when you are thirsty and monitoring the color of your urine. Well-hydrated urine should look pale yellow or colorless.

If you have ADHD, it may be even more important to ensure you are staying properly hydrated throughout the day to better support your attention and memory. ADHD...