Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder

COPING TIPS FOR PARENTS

• Make sure the child understands family rules and the consequences for breaking them. Discipline should be positive, immediate, and of short duration. As the child becomes more responsible, allow him more privileges.
• Help her develop a sense of responsibility and to feel good about herself by giving her jobs to do at home.
• Give brief, simple instructions, being sure you have eye contact and, perhaps, touching the child as you talk. Offer follow-up reminders as needed.
• Help him write a "things to do" list so he can check off the things he has accomplished.
• Counteract impulsiveness by giving firm reminders that she must wait her turn like everyone else, without making a big issue of it.
• Establish a regular routine and be consistent in following it.
• Explain the child's problem to adults who may be responsible for him occasionally, since his behavior must at times be treated differently than other children's.
• Create an alliance with educational, medical, and psychological professionals. Be your child's primary advocate, remembering that cooperation gets better results than confrontation does.
• Remember the children without ADD and give attention to their needs, too.

COPING TIPS FOR TEACHERS

• Provide a semi-private work space such as a desk in a corner away from distractions such as other students, windows, doors, or bright lights. Be sure the child knows this is to help her work better, not to punish her.
• Allow movement if the classroom can be arranged so this will not be distracting to other students.
• Use pre-arranged signals (touching your ear, scratching your nose, straightening a stack of papers) for private communication between teacher and ADD student.
• Rely on "hands-on" learning activities rather than written assignments whenever possible. Use visual aids to get the child's attention.
• Occasionally try one-on-one oral examinations instead of written ones.
• Create an alliance with the child's parents and work with them to find the most effective ways to help the child.

SUGGESTED RESOURCES

1-2-3 Magic, Thomas Phelan, publ. Child Management Inc. ,book & video, Discipline with children ages 2-12. To order, call: 1-800-442-4453.

ADD in Adults Workbook, Lynn Weiss; publ. Taylor. Practical, hands-on method of dealing with ADD; includes a diagnostic self-quiz

ADD in Adults, Lynn Weiss; publ. Taylor.

Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder, video, Thomas Phelan, publ. Child Management, Inc. To order call 1-800-442-4453.

All About Attention Deficit Disorder, book & video, Thomas Phelan, publ. Child Management, Inc. To order call 1-800-442-4453.

Attention Deficit Disorder (audio tape), Janis Miller. Order from author: 1501 Merrimac Cir. Ste. 200, Fort Worth, TX 76107, 817-332-3600.

Gift of Honor, The, Gary Smalley & John Trent; publ. Encouraging Words.

Help for the Hyperactive Child, William Crook

How to Give Your Child a Great Self-Image, Debora Phillips, publ. Random House

Hyper Kids--A Workbook for Parents and Teachers, Lendon Smith

Is This Your Child?, Doris Rapp; publ. Quill (William Morrow Co.). Food allergies in children which affect hyperactive behavior.

Leading a Child to Independence, Jeannie & Paul McKean, Here's Life Publishers, P. O. Box 1576, San Bernardino CA 92402.

Misunderstood Child, The, Larry B. Silver, publ. McGraw-Hill.

Shy But Not Too Shy, Dave Jackson, publ. David C. Cook

Smart But Feeling Dumb, Harold N. Levinson, publ. Warner.

Solving the Puzzle of your Hard to Raise Child, William Crook & Laura J. Stevens, publ. Professional Books

Surviving Your Adolescents, Thomas Phelan, publ. Child Management, Inc. To order call 1-800-442-4453.

Teaching Children Joy & Teaching Children Responsibility, Richard & Linda Erye, publ. Valentine Books

Why Is My Child Having Trouble At School?, Barbara Novick & Maureen Arnold, publ. Villard

You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid, or Crazy, Katy Kelly and Peggy Ramundo; publ. Tyrell and Terem Press (ADD in Adults).

Your Child's Self-Esteem, Dorothy Corkille Briggs, publ. Doubleday

Additional resources available from:

Association for Children and Adults
with Learning Disabilities
4156 Library Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15234

Write for a complete catalog of their material.