Reply to Teens with ADHD: Turnaround Stories

Forum Index » Kids With Special Needs and Disabilities

Reply to "Teens with ADHD: Turnaround Stories "

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous]A shift in perspective helps too. For us understanding that it was ADHD and what that really means helped a lot. Now we didn't focus on syptomatic events as misbhaving or willfully breaking rules. That prevented the power stuggle too.

Instead we identified specific problems together, talked about how it might be symptomatic, and how we might solve those problems and work toward eliminating them. It became about teaching and learning together how to overcome the hurdles.

We used outside resources and reference materials a lot so that neither the problem ID nor solution was coming entirely from parents. And having learned that many people with ADHD do best when they have created their own workarounds, we let the child try the first solution and take ownership of it while helping them implement.

One example, staying focused on homework to get it done. Their brains go at their own paces, so sometiems hyperfocus kicks in and it gets done fast and well; other times the mind wonders and time slips away withhout them realizing it is happening. So we check in during homework every 20 minutes to watch progress. When it was clear TO HIM he was off track (Do you think 3 math problems in 20 minutes is relfecting your understanding of the material here, is this pac eabout right fo rthe complexityof the problems, or is your sense of time messing with you?) Let him name the problem because that points you in the direction of a solution - not a problem they are just complex maths that take time, see the teacher to reinforce content, get a tutor, phone a classmate for help, or use a time focus tool).

Nearly always it was the latter. So, discuss options you found in books previously (take a walk to get the body mind connection back on track; use a shorter timer to help redirect; set the visual clock, swithc to a differnt assignment for now to get out of the rut and refocus the brain, get a high protein snack; etc.) and let him choose the solution. Promise to check in in 20 minutes to see if it is working. Rinse and repeat.

Now in college, he has a built in way to determine when he's off track, an arsenal of tools to use when it happens, and I'm happy ot say, he's doing it. But it took years to develop these skills, and sometimes he falls down; but when he does, it's with understanding the why, and he gives himself grace to pick up and try again or try something new.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics