Alyssa Cooperman September 3, 2018

LL #4
1. Knowledge

A major theme in this chapter is physical development. This is particularly interesting to

me because I have worked with young children when motor skills are starting to play an

important role in ones life. This is related to the secondary idea of childhood obesity. Both of

these concepts have to do with the physical development of a young person. Moreover, the rate

at which one develops motor skills and the extent to which one meets weight expectations both

affect the child’s personal confidence and anxiety levels.

2. Comparison

Two major principles of this reading are ADHD and Dyslexia. ADHD is explained as,

“developmentally inappropriate or excessive inattention, impulsivity, or hyperactivity” (Page

363). Dyslexia is explained as “trouble [with] perceiving letters in their correct

orientation” (Page 368). A child with ADHD may suffer from any of the difficulties involving

inattention, impulse control, and hyperactivity. A child with Dyslexia may suffer from letter

reversals, mirror readings, reduced comprehension, and more. These two concepts are similar to

the concept of Social Skills, discussed in the ‘Nature and Value of Social Skills’ chapter from last

week, because they too are given different definitions for different people. In the same way that

there are many definitions for Social Skills that all slightly differ, the components in one child

that result in the diagnoses of ADHD and/or Dyslexia seem to also differ slightly from child to

child/ case by case.

3. Application
Alyssa Cooperman September 3, 2018
LL #4
The section of the text that discusses Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder applies to

me because I suffer from relatively severe ADD. I say ADD, rather than ADHD, intentionally,

because the hyperactive component does not most generally apply to me. ADHD is a disorder in

which “the child shows developmentally inappropriate or excessive inattention, impulsivity, or

hyperactivity” (Page 363). It seems to me that many people who are not educated on the reality

of ADHD tend to think that it is the categorization of children/people who lack motivation or do

not care enough to stay focused and follow through with various tasks. I care a lot about my

school work and being a productive member of society; that said, I really struggle with the

execution part - it is tricky to make my actions match my words, so to speak. I related

particularly to the sentence about ‘Eddie,’ and how “he shows no interest in television or in

games or toys that require some concentration” (Page 363). I, for example, stopped watching the

highly acclaimed Netflix show, Narcos, halfway through season two, because I did not want to

have to read subtitles. I have seen the same shows and movies dozens of times, because I know

what happens so I do not need to focus. It is a running joke with my friends that I haven’t seen

any famous/classic movies, which is true for the most part - this is only because I have a hard

time sitting through a film.

4. Critique

My critique for this chapter is with the first line in one of the paragraphs regarding

overweight children. The sentence reads, “Overweight children, despite the stereotype, are

usually far from jolly” (Page 353). This sentence reads as a joke. The paragraph goes on to

explain the physical and emotional tolls that being overweight as a child can have on a person.
Alyssa Cooperman September 3, 2018
LL #4
This is truly a serious topic and I think that the textbook could have gone about that differently. I

agree with the information being shared, but I do not agree with the way in which it is shared.

For this reason, I would argue that this is a valid ‘Critique.’

5. Passion

The sentence, “Another concern is that stimulants are overused or misused in an attempt

to control normal high activity levels of children at home or in the classroom,” makes me feel

upset (Page 365). I feel upset because the idea of a perfectly normal, highly active, child being

unnecessarily medicated because the adults in his life do not want to deal with him or are not

equipped with the knowledge and resources to do so, breaks my a heart a little bit. It is one thing

to be medicated because you really need to be, but it is entirely different if it is just because the

adults in your life do not understand your brain/wiring. When I first started taking Concerta in

late elementary school, my parents would often not medicate me on the weekend because they

understood who I was through and through, and knew that the medication was meant to help me

in school, not make me a less active child.