In North America, today is the day most kids head back to school after a summer of running free and doing as they please from sunup to sundown. It’s always bitter-sweet: they miss their summer friends, but they’re excited to see all their school friends too.
Predictably, the first couple of days back are pandemonium and mayhem, but what if your kids don’t settle down after the initial excitement wears off? For many parents, concern over kids’ seeming lack of attention span is heightened by worries that their children have ADD or ADHD.
So how do you know whether or not to be worried and what can you do about it?
According to the Centre for ADHD Awareness, there are three main symptoms to watch for: hyperactivity, inattention / difficulty paying attention, and impulsiveness.
Each of these symptoms can be broken down into sub-symptoms, but those are the main three that indicate a potential problem. If your child exhibits all three, speak to your medical professional to see about testing for ADD or ADHD.
Source: http://www.caddac.ca/cms/page.php?68
If your child isn’t diagnosed but you’re concerned about helping to prevent the problem, or if they have been diagnosed and you’d like to do whatever you can to help them manage their condition without heavy pharmaceuticals, then you may want to consider adding a fish oil for kids to your household’s daily routine.
Although it isn’t an instant stimulant like Rtialin (r) or Dexatrin (r), fish oil is a natural way to increase the amount of Omega 3 in your family’s diet. Let’s face it: getting more fish into fussy eaters can be next to impossible, unless of course the fish is breaded, fried, and smothered in ketchup! But a high-quality fish oil supplement can easily be swallowed or broken open and added to morning yogurt or mixed up in salad dressing.
High dose omega-3 therapy has been shown to reduce the symptoms of ADHD in children and adolescents. By taking doses of fish oil that have significant amounts of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), researchers have measured improvements in all three symptom areas – without the side effects of prescription drugs.
Fish oil for kids doesn’t have to be a specialty purchase: gummi-bear omega 3s really just teach your children to develop their sweet tooths more than they already are – and let’s face it, most kids don’t need any help in that area!
Instead, conquer the number one objection kids have to taking fish oil by choosing a high-quality supplement that doesn’t have any fishy burp-up. You can ensure it’s fresh by understanding the source of the fish oil and the processing methods of the company you are purchasing from. If they’re not natural supplement specialists, be wary! Look for the Certificate of Analysis on their websites, and choose a company with a money-back guarantee. When you get the supplements, break one open. If it smells rancid, return them to the company promptly and go back to the drawing board. A high-quality supplement will not have a fishy smell.
If you’re hoping this is a great year for your children at school, take our tip: fish oil for kids helps concentration, focus, and ultimately, grades!
See Related Post: ADHD: Omega 3
Should you and your family be taking fish oil?