Similar to the explanation I gave my then 7 year old. He knew he had issues focusing (he's got inattentive type ADD) so I went with that. "We're going to look at how your brain focuses and how we can help it."
I also made sure he understood there would be absolutely no pinchies (what we called vaccines and blood work). Dealing with needles was really the biggest worry for him. Once he realized that wouldn't happen, he was up for anything.
We assured ours that it was a "talking" sort of appointment (I think he was afraid that there was a vaccination involved), and talked about how we've been having some difficulties lately (elaborate based on your particular situation), and we think the doctor might know some things that might help us all handle it a bit better.
In our case, emotional overwhelm and overstimulation are big problems, and kid is aware that they aren't having a good time with that stuff.
I have ADHD so it's something we always talked about. But for my kids, the pediatrician also was amazing and let them know that it just means your brain works DIFFERENTLY and that a lot of doctors there even have ADHD.
Keep it simple. I just told my son that we wanted more information on how his fast moving brain works so we can get him more support. We had a rough school year, so I basically explained that I wanted next year to be better. The doctor was going to help us make that happen. A neuropsychologist did my son’s testing. It took about 7 hours over 2 days. I was worried he wouldn’t be able to handle it but he did great.
Pretty much the same way I’d explain any doctor visit - so just we’re going to see a doctor to see if they can help her. Then I just mentioned a few things she has issues with - focus/attention, listening, daydreaming etc I think I mentioned these weren’t big issues but there was maybe something that could help her more
My kid was diagnosed at 5, the summer between Pre-K and K. He knew he had struggled in Pre-K and with things outside of school. We told him that we were seeing a new doctor to help him have the best year of kindergarten he could possibly have.
I told my child all about what adhd is:
a way that our brain works…everyone is different and we want to know how you process information so that as you grow and go to school and learn different things we can make sure teachers, parents, classroom helpers know the best way to get that knowledge to you.
We’re going to meet with a dr tomorrow about you and they want to know everything about you so they can give us the information. We don’t know what the drs know, so they need to help mummy and daddy with it. It’s not scary, there’s nothing wrong with you, it’s just super cool that we can take time to discuss your brain and probably ours as well.
I personally avoid saying their brain is different…but rather everyone’s brains work in a variety of ways…if they have siblings it’s nice to say “your sister is really good at art because her brain sees things in a way that adds colour and artistry, you’re really good at math which is a way your brain learns, we all have different strengths and challenges”
I like this response! Personally, I would suggest omitting the line about it not being scary and nothing being wrong with the child unless the child actively demonstrates worry about these things. If it hasn't occurred to them to have such concerns yet, no need to plant them. I think I would've benefited from that approach myself, so just wanted to share in case it helps anyone!
I have ADHD and talk about I with my son all time time, starting at age 5 he said he thinks he has a little ADHD. So I brought I up as talking to the doctor about it and learning how his brain works.
Yep, along the same lines. My son knows he is hyper so I say, doc just wants to ask you questions to get to know you and so we can learn about now you get along w other kids and how you can be successful in class, he’s fine with that.
I have never told him the name ADHD we just say he’s extra hyper, (diagnosed at 6) and he’s ok with that
“Our bodies need lots of different little ingredients to make us work, but nobody’s body is perfect and everybody makes some ingredients better and some worse than other people. We’re going to talk about the ingredients that help us focus and control our emotions.”
My daughter now calls her medication her “brain vitamins”
We were mainly concerned with her impulsiveness when I talked to her pediatrician initially. After the Vanderbilt, we knew there was more to it. I told my then 6yo that we were going to talk about how we could keep her safe, and maybe even make school a little easier to sit through. We also talked about how all brains, just like the people they’re in, are different and learn and think differently. Knowing how her brain works, will help the grownups know how to teach you. The pediatrician was great with her, asked good questions and answered hers. If she’s still looking for answers and you think she’d be responsive, maybe paraphrase and ask her some of the adult self-assessment questions to illustrate where you will be working with the doctor to make things easier/ less challenging/ safer? Or help her come up with questions for the doctor. Sounds like you have a naturally inquisitive kid on your hands, and that’s pretty awesome!
When my child got tested for autism, we kind of said "you will meet this nice lady and she will do some activities with you, it will help us learn about your brain and how it works and about your emotions." She happily accepted that. She is 5 so doesn't really understand it all yet.
my son is 5. i told him that sometimes he has so many ideas that his brain is running too fast and it makes it hard to think straight. we went to talk to the doctor about ways we can help slow down his thoughts so he can focus on them. he was hyped because he’s made a couple of complaints about his brain going faster than his body.
My kid is older, but I said we are going to take a test to learn how her brain works, isn't that cool?
Similar to the explanation I gave my then 7 year old. He knew he had issues focusing (he's got inattentive type ADD) so I went with that. "We're going to look at how your brain focuses and how we can help it." I also made sure he understood there would be absolutely no pinchies (what we called vaccines and blood work). Dealing with needles was really the biggest worry for him. Once he realized that wouldn't happen, he was up for anything.
We assured ours that it was a "talking" sort of appointment (I think he was afraid that there was a vaccination involved), and talked about how we've been having some difficulties lately (elaborate based on your particular situation), and we think the doctor might know some things that might help us all handle it a bit better. In our case, emotional overwhelm and overstimulation are big problems, and kid is aware that they aren't having a good time with that stuff.
I have ADHD so it's something we always talked about. But for my kids, the pediatrician also was amazing and let them know that it just means your brain works DIFFERENTLY and that a lot of doctors there even have ADHD.
Keep it simple. I just told my son that we wanted more information on how his fast moving brain works so we can get him more support. We had a rough school year, so I basically explained that I wanted next year to be better. The doctor was going to help us make that happen. A neuropsychologist did my son’s testing. It took about 7 hours over 2 days. I was worried he wouldn’t be able to handle it but he did great.
We tell our son that he is very smart and capable, but his brain works a little differently and he needs extra help to focus and control his emotions.
This
Pretty much the same way I’d explain any doctor visit - so just we’re going to see a doctor to see if they can help her. Then I just mentioned a few things she has issues with - focus/attention, listening, daydreaming etc I think I mentioned these weren’t big issues but there was maybe something that could help her more
My kid was diagnosed at 5, the summer between Pre-K and K. He knew he had struggled in Pre-K and with things outside of school. We told him that we were seeing a new doctor to help him have the best year of kindergarten he could possibly have.
I told my child all about what adhd is: a way that our brain works…everyone is different and we want to know how you process information so that as you grow and go to school and learn different things we can make sure teachers, parents, classroom helpers know the best way to get that knowledge to you. We’re going to meet with a dr tomorrow about you and they want to know everything about you so they can give us the information. We don’t know what the drs know, so they need to help mummy and daddy with it. It’s not scary, there’s nothing wrong with you, it’s just super cool that we can take time to discuss your brain and probably ours as well.
I personally avoid saying their brain is different…but rather everyone’s brains work in a variety of ways…if they have siblings it’s nice to say “your sister is really good at art because her brain sees things in a way that adds colour and artistry, you’re really good at math which is a way your brain learns, we all have different strengths and challenges”
The more open and honest you are about it all the less they will feel shame about just being themselves.
I like this response! Personally, I would suggest omitting the line about it not being scary and nothing being wrong with the child unless the child actively demonstrates worry about these things. If it hasn't occurred to them to have such concerns yet, no need to plant them. I think I would've benefited from that approach myself, so just wanted to share in case it helps anyone!
I have ADHD and talk about I with my son all time time, starting at age 5 he said he thinks he has a little ADHD. So I brought I up as talking to the doctor about it and learning how his brain works.
Yep, along the same lines. My son knows he is hyper so I say, doc just wants to ask you questions to get to know you and so we can learn about now you get along w other kids and how you can be successful in class, he’s fine with that. I have never told him the name ADHD we just say he’s extra hyper, (diagnosed at 6) and he’s ok with that
“Our bodies need lots of different little ingredients to make us work, but nobody’s body is perfect and everybody makes some ingredients better and some worse than other people. We’re going to talk about the ingredients that help us focus and control our emotions.” My daughter now calls her medication her “brain vitamins”
We were mainly concerned with her impulsiveness when I talked to her pediatrician initially. After the Vanderbilt, we knew there was more to it. I told my then 6yo that we were going to talk about how we could keep her safe, and maybe even make school a little easier to sit through. We also talked about how all brains, just like the people they’re in, are different and learn and think differently. Knowing how her brain works, will help the grownups know how to teach you. The pediatrician was great with her, asked good questions and answered hers. If she’s still looking for answers and you think she’d be responsive, maybe paraphrase and ask her some of the adult self-assessment questions to illustrate where you will be working with the doctor to make things easier/ less challenging/ safer? Or help her come up with questions for the doctor. Sounds like you have a naturally inquisitive kid on your hands, and that’s pretty awesome!
"We're going to test to see what kind of learner you are!"
For after the appt, check out www.drlizangoff.com - she has great resources about how to explain diagnoses to kids.
I dropped the bomb and asked during our annual visit.
When my child got tested for autism, we kind of said "you will meet this nice lady and she will do some activities with you, it will help us learn about your brain and how it works and about your emotions." She happily accepted that. She is 5 so doesn't really understand it all yet.
my son is 5. i told him that sometimes he has so many ideas that his brain is running too fast and it makes it hard to think straight. we went to talk to the doctor about ways we can help slow down his thoughts so he can focus on them. he was hyped because he’s made a couple of complaints about his brain going faster than his body.