What will help my child stay focused?
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Providing consistency and structure will help an ADHD child stay on track throughout the day. It is our responsibility as parents to maintain a structured environment for our children, without being rigid.
State expectations in terms of what you want your child to do, instead of what you don't want them to do. For example, telling a child to stop running in the house doesn't tell them what behavior is appropriate. Try stating expectations in terms of what you are looking for them to do.
Establish clear rules and expectations for children. Let them participate in both making rules and setting rewards and consequences. Make a clear distinction between "rules" and "expectations". Rules should be decided upon by the parents. Rules are unacceptable behavior under any circumstances. Breaking "rules" carries consequences. Consequences should be decided upon by the family, with child input. Also remember to state rules in a positive format, state what you want, not what you don't want. A rule might be "We resolve arguments by talking and negotiating, instead of hitting, pushing, or being physical." This is a "rule" because it is unacceptable to resort to physical violence. It is probably important and necessary to establish "expectations" along with this rule that meet the families needs. Different expectations might include: "We listen when others are speaking, especially during a conflict." or "We respect others feelings and thoughts, even if they are different from our own."
Provide clear expectations by posting a few key rules on a colorful poster in the kitchen or other high traffic area. After rules and expectations are established, make a poster with your children and post it somewhere they will see it. Having your children participate establishing expectations, will help them to have more ownership. They are more likely to follow expectations, when they have a higher sense of control.
Avoid violent tv shows and video games. Colbert (2001) claims that most children see over 100,000 acts of violence on tv before they finish elementary school. Research is inconclusive regarding the effect of children's exposure to tv, media, and video game violence (Ferguson, Rueda, Cruz, Ferguson, Fritz, & Smith, 2008; Bartholow, Sestir, Davis, 2005). However, we know as christians that it is important to keep our minds focused on things that are "true... noble... right... lovely... admirable... excellent or praise worthy...." (Phil 4:8, New International Version [NIV]). Help your child by providing them with positive, nonviolent experiences with the media, television shows, and video games.
Limit TV and video games to 1 hour per weekday and 2-3 hours per weekend day. Video games are not by nature a "bad" activity. In fact, many children with ADHD are able to focus for long stretches of time on video games. If Barkley's Theory (1997) were applied to video games, it is possible to suppose that video games provide higher levels of visual stimulation and more immediate rewards and consequences. However, it is possible for your child to get "sucked" into video games for these very reasons. It is important for you as the parent to provide clear structure and expectations. Video games can be used as a reward or a break from homework, if they are supervised and limited.
Have your child clean and organize his or her bedroom daily. It is important to establish routines and habits. Children with ADHD need high levels of structure for success (Shillingford, Lambie, Walter, 2007; DuPaul, Weyandt, 2006). Help your child with this activity each week, helping them to stay on-task. Provide short, reasonable goals, time limits, motivation, and rewards. You might try to make cleaning a game that is time-limited, goal-oriented, and reward based. Praise your child's progress however small. Also, have your child set expectations for maintaining structure as much as possible. Praise your child when these expectations are met.
Adapted from The Bible Cure for ADD and Hyperactivity (Colbert, 2001)
See Next: Establishing Consistent Habits and Routines
State expectations in terms of what you want your child to do, instead of what you don't want them to do. For example, telling a child to stop running in the house doesn't tell them what behavior is appropriate. Try stating expectations in terms of what you are looking for them to do.
Establish clear rules and expectations for children. Let them participate in both making rules and setting rewards and consequences. Make a clear distinction between "rules" and "expectations". Rules should be decided upon by the parents. Rules are unacceptable behavior under any circumstances. Breaking "rules" carries consequences. Consequences should be decided upon by the family, with child input. Also remember to state rules in a positive format, state what you want, not what you don't want. A rule might be "We resolve arguments by talking and negotiating, instead of hitting, pushing, or being physical." This is a "rule" because it is unacceptable to resort to physical violence. It is probably important and necessary to establish "expectations" along with this rule that meet the families needs. Different expectations might include: "We listen when others are speaking, especially during a conflict." or "We respect others feelings and thoughts, even if they are different from our own."
Provide clear expectations by posting a few key rules on a colorful poster in the kitchen or other high traffic area. After rules and expectations are established, make a poster with your children and post it somewhere they will see it. Having your children participate establishing expectations, will help them to have more ownership. They are more likely to follow expectations, when they have a higher sense of control.
Avoid violent tv shows and video games. Colbert (2001) claims that most children see over 100,000 acts of violence on tv before they finish elementary school. Research is inconclusive regarding the effect of children's exposure to tv, media, and video game violence (Ferguson, Rueda, Cruz, Ferguson, Fritz, & Smith, 2008; Bartholow, Sestir, Davis, 2005). However, we know as christians that it is important to keep our minds focused on things that are "true... noble... right... lovely... admirable... excellent or praise worthy...." (Phil 4:8, New International Version [NIV]). Help your child by providing them with positive, nonviolent experiences with the media, television shows, and video games.
Limit TV and video games to 1 hour per weekday and 2-3 hours per weekend day. Video games are not by nature a "bad" activity. In fact, many children with ADHD are able to focus for long stretches of time on video games. If Barkley's Theory (1997) were applied to video games, it is possible to suppose that video games provide higher levels of visual stimulation and more immediate rewards and consequences. However, it is possible for your child to get "sucked" into video games for these very reasons. It is important for you as the parent to provide clear structure and expectations. Video games can be used as a reward or a break from homework, if they are supervised and limited.
Have your child clean and organize his or her bedroom daily. It is important to establish routines and habits. Children with ADHD need high levels of structure for success (Shillingford, Lambie, Walter, 2007; DuPaul, Weyandt, 2006). Help your child with this activity each week, helping them to stay on-task. Provide short, reasonable goals, time limits, motivation, and rewards. You might try to make cleaning a game that is time-limited, goal-oriented, and reward based. Praise your child's progress however small. Also, have your child set expectations for maintaining structure as much as possible. Praise your child when these expectations are met.
Adapted from The Bible Cure for ADD and Hyperactivity (Colbert, 2001)
See Next: Establishing Consistent Habits and Routines
