Finding a school for your child.
Emailled to us by Calissa Leigh, a mother and head developer for an up coming private school for children with ADD and ADHD.

"Children and learning should be two words that go together very well. Sometimes, however,
circumstances makes such a happy togetherness nearly impossible.

Has your child ever been thought of as 'over active' or 'inattentive' when you know that child is very bright, even brilliant? Have you been told or even had your child diagnosed with a behavioral disorder, like ADD or similar? Does your child have a hard time learning in school? 

Parents are often worried about their children's education. Public schools are known to be limited in their ability to accommodate these students. Children can often slip through school uneducated because of a lack of patience in teaching each individual.

Sometimes, the best alternative is to home school, however, this also is a problem. Today's society is dependent on two incomes per family. While each parent would love to have the time and money to stay home and teach their child, you'll not always be able to give up your job.

When it comes down to what to do, sometimes a private school is the answer. But aren't all private schools religious? Or aren't all of them for smarter kids who do really well in school?

While shifting through a pile of brochures of private schools for children, it's not always easy to find one that will accommodate  children with  ADD.

"Not a lot of schools out there are available to children specifically with  ADD and ADHD " says Calissa. "Few such schools exist, and most of those are military or are for children who do very well in school, and have a few slight problems with public schools."

So how does one go about finding an appropriate school?

First, try finding out as much information about schools as possible.

• Not every school is listed online, so try contacting your local Private School Association. Some schools are listed with www.schools.com, a website for private and boarding institutions, which lists their accredited schools.
• Each school has a different philosphy and mission statement. Ask the director what the mission statement is. If it outlines your child, it would be a start at picking an appropriate school.
• Have the school send as much information as they can. Most schools have a packet available with photos of the school, information on their specialties and programs, and it also includes the application form.

Remember to take two copies of the application form. One to be your rough draft and write in pencil in case you make a mistake. When you complete your application, be sure to include the accomplishments of your child. Did he start reading at 16 months? Did she win an award or attend a dance class? Showing that your child does like to learn will be a big help when it comes to picking and choosing for the administrators.

If your child's application is accepted, be sure to visit the school. Talk to teachers, and students as well as the administrators. What is an average day like? Can you sit in a classroom and observe a session? Who watches the children when they play and study? If it is a boarding school, ask about dorm parents and where they stay when watching sleeping children. 

Remember, the first day of school for any child is hard. When tuitions for private school can be as high as $45,000 a year, you want your child to be as comfortable as possible. If your child is young, ask for special help, or ask for permission to spend the first couple of days with your child in the classroom, until he or she gets comfortable with the new surroundings.