This article, written by Rev. Wendy Lewis, appears in the January 2003 edition of Voice of Chioces (www.voiceofchoices.org) magazine.

Right-Brained Children in a Left-Brained world
By Rev. Wendy Lewis

Q: I need some advice on what to do about my 11 year-old son. His teachers say he is out of control, never pays attention and needs to be on medication. He is very smart and seems to understand what the teachers are saying, but doesn't like to sit still. I don't want to use drugs, what can I do?

A: Unfortunately, it is very common for teachers to suggest that children need to be drugged in order to fit into the class. It is also very common today to have a classroom full of children who are not learning or reacting in the same way that kids used to. It is important for parents look at the overall child before deciding if medication is the way to go. While the child may not be acting "properly" in class, he may be an amazing artist who has incredible talents in a field other than academics. Those talents are often diminished by using prescribed drugs.

In the past kids were all expected to fit into a specific category. There were several categories, but most all kids fit easily within those categories; or were forced by the schools and their parents to fit. Today's children are not as easily swayed into changing their ways as kids used to be. The children who are coming onto the earth now are children who are here to help during the world's next evolution. We have all been feeling that things are changing and we have read that the world is moving from a time of anger and violence into a time of peace and love for all of humanity.

That move and the formation of a new world order and structure rests on the children who are in our schools today. These children must be very intelligent, intuitive and not easily swayed in order to have what it takes to bring about positive change for our future world. As parents we need to nurture their personal traits and talents. Drugs may make life easier for some, and they are benefiting a few, but the wide use of the drugs is actually hampering the talents of many.

Most of today's kids think creatively, they need to see the "big picture" before the point is understood, they are usually visual learners and not detail oriented. Today's kids are right-brained thinkers, but our educational system delivers it's material using an old-fashioned a left-brained approach that focuses on detail and auditory learning. Many right-brained children are being labeled ADD or ADHD. What they need is not drugs, but a different teaching method and a teacher who understands their creative, visual learning style.

As an individual parent you are not probably going to change the school system, but the more insistent parents are about how the schools are serving the needs of their children the faster change will happen. Talk to your son's teacher about specific problems, find agreeable solutions that you, the teacher and your son can work with. Involve the principal in these discussions so that the school authorities will know how insistent you are to make things change.
If the teacher says your son won't sit still and concentrate, ask if he can doodle on paper while she is talking. It will help his creative side stay busy so his brain can work. If right-brained children's brain (and body) are not moving they can not think and process information. If he is interrupting the class by shouting out, set up a reward system for him so that he gets positive reinforcement from both you and the teacher for raising his hand and waiting to be called on. If he says he is bored with the stuff the teacher is teaching, ask if he can do an extra credit assignment, of his choosing, you will have to be the teacher and help him with what ever he needs on this. If you ask the teacher to provide extra support for the assignment you may be less likely to get it approved. There are many things you can do as a parent who is willing to get involved in your child's education. Just remember, you are the parent, the school district is not, you need to make the decisions that are in the best interest for the overall child. If home schooling is possible for your family, please consider it; there are many local support groups to give assistance and advice to new home school parents.

There are many things you can do at home to help also. The first is to eliminate sugar (as much as possible) from his diet. Also, get rid of chemicals and artificial coloring in his diet. These rob his body of important nutrients and send him on a chemical high that will drop him like a rock after an hour or so. Add organic foods to your diet as often as possible. Try to remove fast foods and high fat foods as often as possible.

In addition to diet, you can affect his behavior by decreasing his time on video games or TV viewing. Long time periods spent with images flashing in front or a right-brained child's face is too stimulating for visual learners. It leads to them wanting everything to be delivered in a colorful, fast-paced manner, or they tune it out. Many right-brained children are addicted to TV, video games and even their music. All of these things deliver stimulation quickly and repeatedly, it sends the child on a high, and encourages them to find satisfaction only in fast-paced, colorful, intense imagery.

Have family conversations many times a day. Intelligent conversation, if only for 5 minutes several times a day will help the child learn to express himself and will teach him to listen and process information in a usable manner through auditory methods. Lastly, be patient and love your child with all your heart. You have been given this opportunity to parent a child who will help usher in a much needed change to our world, the love you feel and teach to your child will be reflected many times over when they grow up and literally "take on the world."

Rev. Wendy & Emilyanne Lewis are a mother-daughter counseling pair who work with families to help them find solutions and understanding from both sides. For more information about their work please see their website at: www.earthangelspiritualcenter.com or call 206) 920-1008

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