Autism as a reason to misbehave

[BroomJockey]

Kids are mostly little uneducated adults with poor self control.

This is so wrong that it's laughable. Children's brains are different than adults, even ignoring education and indoctrination. For the ultimate example, there's Ritalin. A neuroactive chemical that acts as an upper in adults but a downer in children. That alone demonstrates that there is a fundamental chemical difference in the operation of a child and adult's brain. You can't argue around that one. You can't. Further, there's multiple studies that show neural pathways responsible for decision making are still forming as late as 25 years old. So not only is the brain demonstrably chemically different from an adult brain, it's not even finished creating basic structures. So to say kids are just tiny adults shows a lack of knowledge of children to a startlingly deep degree. I think that makes any advice you give suspect at best, and dangerous at worst.

[Flyndaran]

This is so wrong that it's laughable. Children's brains are different than adults, even ignoring education and indoctrination. For the ultimate example, there's Ritalin. A neuroactive chemical that acts as an upper in adults but a downer in children. That alone demonstrates that there is a fundamental chemical difference in the operation of a child and adult's brain. You can't argue around that one. You can't. Further, there's multiple studies that show neural pathways responsible for decision making are still forming as late as 25 years old. So not only is the brain demonstrably chemically different from an adult brain, it's not even finished creating basic structures. So to say kids are just tiny adults shows a lack of knowledge of children to a startlingly deep degree. I think that makes any advice you give suspect at best, and dangerous at worst.

No. They do not act as depressants on kids. It acts as a stimulant on them too. It just stimulates the frontal lobes of the brain, causing a reduction in mental hyperactivity and poor impulse control. It still speeds up their heart rate, etc.
Teenagers are different in that the emotional sections of the brain mature faster than the frontal lobes making them feel things more strongly than small children or adults. Kids have equal parts immaturity which mostly cancel each other.
Lets not start throwing around insults about OUR ignorance.

[Nyoibo]

If you want to get anal about it methylphenidate increases dopamine levels by stimulating production of dopamine and inhibiting the re-uptake, it's the dopamine that effects the frontal lobes or more precisely the pre-frontal cortex. Given that to an extent dopamines effects are conditional to the specific brain chemistry it will have different effects on different people, it has different effects to children with ADD as to those without it, it also has different effects on adults as it does to children.

[Peppergirl]

If you want to get anal about it methylphenidate increases dopamine levels by stimulating production of dopamine and inhibiting the re-uptake, it's the dopamine that effects the frontal lobes or more precisely the pre-frontal cortex

I agree!!!!!

Nah, just kidding. I have no idea what you just said, just throwing it in for levity sake.

[violetyoshi]

I doubt it. Unless he says things that no parent ever thought, then his opinion is as valid as anyone's.
The only things that non-parents may underestimate are children's periodic spewing of verbal venom, lack of sleeping, and of course mind-numbing volume.

Um, just wanted to point out. I'm female.

[Flyndaran]

Um, just wanted to point out. I'm female.

Sorry. It's easy to forget genders here.

[BroomJockey]

there is a fundamental chemical difference in the operation of a child and adult's brain.

I know there's a specific name for the effect, too, but I couldn't locate it. I did find this though:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1884865/

In some cases, stage of development can alter the action of, and response to, a drug – a truly age-dependent difference in pharmacodynamics. This may be true of both the desired action and adverse events (Box 2). Furthermore, and exclusively to fetal life and childhood, a drug can also alter development, temporarily or permanently (‘programming’).

[Dreamstalker]

I was put on drugs (tricyclics) that they are now saying should never be given to children as young as I was at the time. I can't say for sure what lasting effect they had on me, only that I'm fairly sure there was some negative impact that likely led to the assortment of misdiagnoses over the years (all I had was an brain bleed at birth that was correcting itself).

If children's brains aren't different from adults, why then do a lot of psychiatric medications carry warnings that they should not be prescribed to children/teens under a certain age?

[LadyMage]

Kids are mostly little uneducated adults with poor self control.

you know that theory about kids being small adults is SOOOOO Victorian era anyway, get with the twenty first century

seriously though that is a very old fashioned way of thinking, kids are not small adults, hell they haven't even gone through puberty yet! while i understand you would rather have experts then parents advising laws I would rather have BOTH! and pray the saner argument wins mostly because even experts can make messed up claims


and to all parents, a non parent can no about child care ok, I have younger nieces and nephews that I knew since birth, one is special needs and the others are just well... kids, while individual cases I can not quote I can get a general idea of what is going on

damn this thread got mega hijacked didn't it, remember my orginal post talked about people using a disablity as an excuse for acting like an asshole, or parents using it as a reason for their kids to be brats and a half, since most posters here are good parents and people no need to fight

[Flyndaran]

Again, I mainly meant psychology. But again, also, I keep talking about my family experiences, which seem to indicate I'm talking about another species.
Goo thing we don't want kids. I might get a human one.

[IDrinkaRum]

I am pleased(?) to announce ...

That Child Rum has a new trigger for her meltdowns!

*the crowd on Fratching goes wild*

MUD!

Yes, good old fashioned mud.

We went to the Maryland Renn Faire yesterday (last day for this year).

We had to walk in mud.

Close to the time we were leaving anyway, Child Rum must have stepped in a huge glob of mud.

She was going crazy. She didn't want to wear her shoes (she had to or she'd be even muddier than she was at that moment).

Full fledged, crying, screaming, throwing of the shoes. Woohoo!

Ahem ... Yes, we calmed her down. But it sure liked like a temper tantrum to everyone else.

[violetyoshi]

I don't see why it should matter what other people think. Don't they have their own children to care for? No, then it's none of their damn business.*

*Yes yes, I'm sure there will be many people here calling me a hypocrite for pointing out other parents faults while being childless.

[IDrinkaRum]

I came up on the scene. I had had to sit down because I was tiring out to quickly.

I saw one person pushing a baby carriage making one of those "She's a brat" faces.

But maybe I'm projecting my insecurities?

I saw a lot of disgusted looks.

But it doesn't matter.

We cleaned off the mud (not all of it) and got her feets back into her shoes.

Matter averted.

As soon as we were past the gates and into the parking lot, she was running ahead of us to get to the car. She couldn't leave the place quick enough! XD

[RecoveringKinkoid]

You might have been projecting your own insecurities.

Or, she might have been racking up some nice karma for when it's her turn.

Or, if she's a wise woman, she was making a face because she realized that her turn was on it's way and all to soon.

[IDrinkaRum]

Thanks Kink!

You are the voice of my reason.

Or something like that.

LOL

Yeah .. I know ... I do project (it's that darn anxiety haunting me again).

But at least we were able to calm her down.

And Mr. Rum actually helped me!

Will wonders never cease?