Comments for Jean Burman http://jeanburman.com Artist Writer Curious Dreamer Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:46:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on The Olympics - Net Benefits by Jean http://jeanburman.com/2008/08/25/the-olympics-net-benefits/#comment-3273 Jean Sun, 31 Aug 2008 05:36:15 +0000 http://jeanburman.com/?p=512#comment-3273 Yes you're so right Jools. These kids do need special understanding and appropriate handling no matter what it is that makes them different! :-) But there are a few distinctions that should be made here. Kids with ADD aren't usually overactive or disruptive... just inattentive. Kids with ADHD are always overactive, disruptive... (as well as inattentive)... there are many variables. But ADD and ADHD are entirely different conditions to Autism... though admittedly they do share some common symptoms. ADD and ADHD is a developmental issue and often improves with maturity. Autism is for life. The early obvious difference in children who suffer autism... is the child's inability to maintain eye contact or express emotion appropriately. Research is ongoing... and hopefully one day more will be known. Yes you’re so right Jools. These kids do need special understanding and appropriate handling no matter what it is that makes them different! :-)

But there are a few distinctions that should be made here.
Kids with ADD aren’t usually overactive or disruptive… just inattentive.
Kids with ADHD are always overactive, disruptive… (as well as inattentive)… there are many variables.

But ADD and ADHD are entirely different conditions to Autism… though admittedly they do share some common symptoms. ADD and ADHD is a developmental issue and often improves with maturity. Autism is for life.

The early obvious difference in children who suffer autism… is the child’s inability to maintain eye contact or express emotion appropriately. Research is ongoing… and hopefully one day more will be known.

]]> Comment on The Olympics - Net Benefits by Blog on Cairns cos its the end of winter | Imaginif Child Protection became Serious Business http://jeanburman.com/2008/08/25/the-olympics-net-benefits/#comment-3271 Blog on Cairns cos its the end of winter | Imaginif Child Protection became Serious Business Sat, 30 Aug 2008 22:46:28 +0000 http://jeanburman.com/?p=512#comment-3271 [...] Burman (artist): In The Olympics - Net Benefits, Jean reflects on the humanness, verses the win, win, win, tally focus of the Olympic games. [...] [...] Burman (artist): In The Olympics - Net Benefits, Jean reflects on the humanness, verses the win, win, win, tally focus of the Olympic games. [...]

]]> Comment on The Olympics - Net Benefits by Garden Jools http://jeanburman.com/2008/08/25/the-olympics-net-benefits/#comment-3270 Garden Jools Sat, 30 Aug 2008 19:45:38 +0000 http://jeanburman.com/?p=512#comment-3270 I see that these children...whatever the title of their "problem" are actually quite special Jean. I have seen these kids sitting in rooms with no real connection to what normally goes on - until...another way is presented to them and then something inside them clicks and then they just fly! There is a fine line between genious and madness...as such! ADD was around when I was a kid, then it became ADHD (just add another letter and another word to confuse us all!), but I think autism has been a seperate thing for quite a while. ADHD kids tend to be non stop buzzing, where as autistic kids having more of a floating quality about them...they drift in and out. Either way, they all need special understanding and guidance to help them connect. Thats the part that I like! I see that these children…whatever the title of their “problem” are actually quite special Jean. I have seen these kids sitting in rooms with no real connection to what normally goes on - until…another way is presented to them and then something inside them clicks and then they just fly! There is a fine line between genious and madness…as such! ADD was around when I was a kid, then it became ADHD (just add another letter and another word to confuse us all!), but I think autism has been a seperate thing for quite a while. ADHD kids tend to be non stop buzzing, where as autistic kids having more of a floating quality about them…they drift in and out. Either way, they all need special understanding and guidance to help them connect. Thats the part that I like!

]]> Comment on The Olympics - Net Benefits by Jean http://jeanburman.com/2008/08/25/the-olympics-net-benefits/#comment-3269 Jean Sat, 30 Aug 2008 05:42:56 +0000 http://jeanburman.com/?p=512#comment-3269 Gosh Roger... your grandson is going to be a big bloke when he grows up! That's wonderful! John... it's the secondary behaviours that are the real problem with ADD and ADHD. When kids are excluded from mainstream classes because of behaviour... ostracised and further alienated from their peers... this is when the problems really escalate. Apologising for this boy only served to further underline this teacher's lack of understanding and inability to competently handle her young charge. Sad isn't it? Jools... ADD and then ADHD was the diagnosis of choice for a while... but now... as parents and professionals cast around for more high faluting answers to those confusing childhood behavioural problems... autism has become the new big thing. I doubt that very many children truly suffer from autism... certainly not as many as are formally diagnosed. As with ADD and ADHD sometimes it simply helps to give it a label. Somehow that makes it all feel so much better. LOL Gosh Roger… your grandson is going to be a big bloke when he grows up! That’s wonderful!

John… it’s the secondary behaviours that are the real problem with ADD and ADHD. When kids are excluded from mainstream classes because of behaviour… ostracised and further alienated from their peers… this is when the problems really escalate. Apologising for this boy only served to further underline this teacher’s lack of understanding and inability to competently handle her young charge. Sad isn’t it?

Jools… ADD and then ADHD was the diagnosis of choice for a while… but now… as parents and professionals cast around for more high faluting answers to those confusing childhood behavioural problems… autism has become the new big thing. I doubt that very many children truly suffer from autism… certainly not as many as are formally diagnosed. As with ADD and ADHD sometimes it simply helps to give it a label. Somehow that makes it all feel so much better. LOL

]]> Comment on The Olympics - Net Benefits by Garden Jools http://jeanburman.com/2008/08/25/the-olympics-net-benefits/#comment-3268 Garden Jools Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:04:45 +0000 http://jeanburman.com/?p=512#comment-3268 I agree with all that you have said (Jean, John and Roger...I cannot make a judgement on that!! Lol!) I have come across many children with "deficits", autism is another strange phenomenon. It is similar to ADHD in that both cases the children can be disruptive or destructive..depending on the situation. I have given these children roles to play or responsibility within the teamwork of a theatre production..and they have delivered with surprising results. I have also seen children who struggle with speech and communication until you give them another way...music, art and drama. I am certain that they know they have affected their audience and that makes them shine all the brighter! I agree with all that you have said (Jean, John and Roger…I cannot make a judgement on that!! Lol!) I have come across many children with “deficits”, autism is another strange phenomenon. It is similar to ADHD in that both cases the children can be disruptive or destructive..depending on the situation. I have given these children roles to play or responsibility within the teamwork of a theatre production..and they have delivered with surprising results. I have also seen children who struggle with speech and communication until you give them another way…music, art and drama. I am certain that they know they have affected their audience and that makes them shine all the brighter!

]]> Comment on The Olympics - Net Benefits by John C http://jeanburman.com/2008/08/25/the-olympics-net-benefits/#comment-3267 John C Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:21:59 +0000 http://jeanburman.com/?p=512#comment-3267 Jean, I once was doing a performance of my one-person "Einstein" for elementary school kids. The school version is shortened, with a QandA at the end allowing the kids to ask Einstein questions (something I don't do with adult audiences). I called on one boy and he asked a couple of superb questions, then followed up my answer with another good one. All his questions were far more interesting and astute than what the other kids were asking. At that point a teacher stopped him. Afterward she came to me and apologized for him, saying he was always full of questions like that. I asked her if he was ADHD and she confirmed what I'd already figured out, that he was. He was the smartest kid in the room. Jean, I once was doing a performance of my one-person “Einstein” for elementary school kids. The school version is shortened, with a QandA at the end allowing the kids to ask Einstein questions (something I don’t do with adult audiences). I called on one boy and he asked a couple of superb questions, then followed up my answer with another good one. All his questions were far more interesting and astute than what the other kids were asking. At that point a teacher stopped him. Afterward she came to me and apologized for him, saying he was always full of questions like that. I asked her if he was ADHD and she confirmed what I’d already figured out, that he was. He was the smartest kid in the room.

]]> Comment on The Olympics - Net Benefits by roger http://jeanburman.com/2008/08/25/the-olympics-net-benefits/#comment-3266 roger Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:43:30 +0000 http://jeanburman.com/?p=512#comment-3266 MY grandson is rapidly getting an immense stature 6ft 3 in and size 13 feet. He was 14 in March. He plays soccer. He is handsomer than Phelps in my opinion. MY grandson is rapidly getting an immense stature 6ft 3 in and size 13 feet. He was 14 in March. He plays soccer. He is handsomer than Phelps in my opinion.

]]> Comment on The Olympics - Net Benefits by Jean http://jeanburman.com/2008/08/25/the-olympics-net-benefits/#comment-3265 Jean Thu, 28 Aug 2008 02:09:54 +0000 http://jeanburman.com/?p=512#comment-3265 Couldn't agree more John. Boredom is DEFINITELY at the heart of attention deficit. Give any of these kids a purpose... something they really believe in... and not only is there no longer a problem... they often excel beyond all expectation. A lot can be said for them to have someone who truly believes in them as well. That's what makes what you are doing so worthwhile to these kids John. Couldn’t agree more John. Boredom is DEFINITELY at the heart of attention deficit. Give any of these kids a purpose… something they really believe in… and not only is there no longer a problem… they often excel beyond all expectation. A lot can be said for them to have someone who truly believes in them as well. That’s what makes what you are doing so worthwhile to these kids John.

]]> Comment on The Olympics - Net Benefits by John C http://jeanburman.com/2008/08/25/the-olympics-net-benefits/#comment-3264 John C Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:32:42 +0000 http://jeanburman.com/?p=512#comment-3264 You're so right about ADHD, Jean. I've coached ADHD kids who were splendid athletes. Also, some wonderful acting students. Both acivities require high levels of concentratrion. The secret with them is to find the thing they're interested in. When that happens they have anything but "attention deficit." I believe the kids in school who are diagnosed with it get bored because their minds are racing way ahead of the rest. You’re so right about ADHD, Jean. I’ve coached ADHD kids who were splendid athletes. Also, some wonderful acting students. Both acivities require high levels of concentratrion. The secret with them is to find the thing they’re interested in. When that happens they have anything but “attention deficit.” I believe the kids in school who are diagnosed with it get bored because their minds are racing way ahead of the rest.

]]> Comment on The Olympics - Net Benefits by Jean http://jeanburman.com/2008/08/25/the-olympics-net-benefits/#comment-3263 Jean Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:38:48 +0000 http://jeanburman.com/?p=512#comment-3263 The reports say he suffered ADHD as a child (this may or may not be correct given the propensity of the media to invent and twist) but it might go some way toward explaining his sporting genius. Those who suffer are far from dumb... and do in fact often possess a superior level of intelligence in certain areas that often translates into exceptional success as the person grows older. Phelps' immense stature (and his size 14 feet) no doubt helped him as well! LOL The reports say he suffered ADHD as a child (this may or may not be correct given the propensity of the media to invent and twist) but it might go some way toward explaining his sporting genius. Those who suffer are far from dumb… and do in fact often possess a superior level of intelligence in certain areas that often translates into exceptional success as the person grows older. Phelps’ immense stature (and his size 14 feet) no doubt helped him as well! LOL

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