Mental Health for Kids

My son is a whole person, the sum of all his average, stellar and quirky parts.  And I can't wait to see who he becomes, this boy in the bright yellow canary suit, who insists on dancing to his own tune.

  There are steel challenges there on how to manage it, but why not call it a highly specialized mind phenomenon rather than a disorder?. That label alone shapes public perception about uniqueness and quirkiness". School is the most brutal frontier for these kids, and as we all know, anything from a lisp to a bad haircut is grounds for persecution.  But there are other options, such as schools that specialize in specific disorders : the monarch School in Houston is geared toward children on the autism spectrum ;  Landmark College in Vermont is constructed around the needs of kids with ADHD.

     Another way to go, experts say : if you son seems to focus only in math class, suggest capitalizing on his strengths by sending him to a school that emphasizes math and science.  It will build up his confidence, and may lead to an increased interest in other areas.  All kinds of Minds has created courses ( available to schools across the country ) for all sorts of quirky kids who struggle with learning.  Their advice to educators : take each case on  an individual basis and empower kids with grass-roots techniques. " If a quirky kid is trying to talk to his 10-year-old peers about architectural design,.  I'd wait until they're alone, then say. " You know, with that group  architecture's not going to work, but here are some topics that might,"   suggests Barringer.  " You can coach them in verbal pragmatics and even topic selection.     They may not be the most popular kids, but it could help them navigate socially through those tough school years. "

        For parents and siblings, living with a kid who's different is almost always challenging :  " It's hard on his two older brothers, " says Lisa, the mother of  a 6-year-old who's bright yet still can't carry on a coherent conversation with classmates.  " They get frustrated and embarrassed that Matt is little quirky.  They don't know what to say to their friends, just like I don't know what to say to mine."    But the disproportionate meltdowns at home ao awkward public scenes that come with these kids are almost always balanced by equally extreme moments of wonder.  Lily, who always wears her clothes inside out because the seams " are just too hurry,"  swears she can hear spiders walking on the wall two rooms away.  Funny thing is, the 9-year-old is often right.  " My son never received a formal diagnosis, but has a handful of delays and quirks," say a parent who prefers to remain anonymous.  " He's complicated and wonderful.  I'll never have that issue with my son."

         Every child is,  of course, unique ( quirky children, a little more so )  and every individual situation calls for its own set of rules.  But the challenges for parents with kids who are different-whatever their glitches and eccentricities may be  are remarkably the same.  Can we make the would they're going to grow up in sufficiently kind and welcoming to them and their quirks, and can we provide them with the basic skills they need to navigate in the word?  I eventually did consult experts.  Some of what they said was helpful, but they offered no great, demystifying insights.  I never really did expect anyone to totally peg my son ; the fascinating little man changes on a daily basis.  One day we call him space cookie, the next day Sweet Pea, the next our Tasmanian devil.  But he is a whole person, the sum of all is average, stellar and quirky parts and my job is much  like any other parent's -to guide him when necessary, let go when I overdo it and constantly sweep for minefields ( even ones I have inadvertently laid in his path ) that threaten to obliterate his incredibly unique spirit.  I can't wait to see who he becomes, this boy in a bright yellow canary suit, who insists on dancing to his own tune.

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