Try as they might, kids with ADD, or attention deficit disorder--also known as ADHD or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder--have a hard time concentrating, staying on task and sitting still. Parents and teachers can help kids handle their distractibility and excess energy by teaching them coping techniques, then helping them to develop their own solutions for the challenges they face. Ask them what will help, suggest Dr. Edward M. Hallowell and Dr. John J. Ratey, authors of "Driven to Distraction." Kids with ADD are often intuitive and can tell you what will work to help them focus.
Find a Friendly Routine
Ask the kids to think of routines as friends who are there for them, but ask nothing in return. Routines provide structure. Kids with ADD cannot provide their own internal structure, and an external structure offsets that lack, according Hallowell and Ratey. Once in place, routines can be automatic, requiring no thought and no attention--a relief for ADD kids. Routines will get them through the mundane tasks of the day. With each step laid out, they will not have to decide what comes next; they already know and will be less easily distracted.
Race the Clock
Timers can add a good deal of entertainment value to what ADD kids need to get done. Have the kids race the timer when it's time to pick up their bedrooms, empty the dishwasher or straighten their desks before the school day ends. Timers also help keep ADD kids on task. Ask them to set a timer when starting an activity that will engross them--video games, for example--to remind them to stop in time to wash up for dinner.
Divide and Conquer
Kids with ADD can alleviate the agony of a big job in front of them by dividing the job into smaller tasks. Breaking work down is one of the most crucial techniques to teach kids with ADD, according to Hallowell and Ratey. Concentrating on one task at a time helps the kids avoid the feeling of being overwhelmed and the frustration that accompanies it. For example, picking up the bedroom can be broken down into picking up clothes off the floor, putting toys in the toy box and pulling up the covers on the bed. A math assignment can be broken down into doing a few problems at a time.
Make Lists and Stick to the Agenda
Lists provide reminders for ADD kids. Like routines, lists also provide structure. For example, remembering homework assignments can be torture, but if they keep a homework agenda they can prevent the frustration they feel when they can't remember what they are supposed to do. Making a list of what they need to do before going out to play can keep kids with ADD focused on the goal. Being able to refer to that list can keep them from becoming lost in their distraction. Checking off items on the list will also give them a sense of accomplishment.
Find a Fidget
Parents and teachers often tell their ADD kids to quit fidgeting. But some fidgets can help the kids focus. Using their excess energy on a fidget that does not require thought frees the rest of the mind to concentrate on the task at hand, according to ADDitude magazine. Allow kids with ADD to find a fidget that is not disruptive to others, such as doodling while listening to the teacher, twirling hair or chewing gum while doing homework, or listening to music while doing chores.
References
- "Driven to Distraction"; Edward M. Hallowell, M.D. and John J. Ratey, M.D.; 1995
- ADDitude: 9 Ways to Focus Right Now: Harness the Power of ADHD Fidgeting
