ADHD

Here are some strategies to try with a child who is struggling with ADHD impairment.

Activation, organizing, prioritizing:

• Set a timer to get started. Often the hardest part of any assignment, job, or chore is getting started.
• Model how to do the assignment or task and then invite the child to continue.
• Provide a reminder prior to starting the task.
• Make and teach the use of "to do" lists, planners, colored folders, calendars, or other system of writing down and keeping track of things
• Have designated spaces for back pack, desk, study materials. Be consistent in utilizing spaces and planning times. Have a space for everything and put everything in its space.
• Create routine and be consistent in following a posted schedule.

Focusing and Sustaining Attention:

• Have posted rules and invite the child to help make the rules.
• Use token economy to provide reinforcement and motivation. These may include sticker charts, popsicle sticks, labeled blocks, coins, or marbles.
• Have child choose the reward ahead of time. Rewards can be edible (sweets, treats, chips), tangible (toy), or priviledges (extra computer or game time, pick a favorite movie, or dessert, make a special treat, enjoy a special date with mom or dad, extended bedtime, etc)
• provide visual reminder of expectations (picture of a clean room along with procedures of cleaning a room)
• Use of a carrel, headphones, or ear plugs to avoid distractions.

Effort, alertness, speed:

• Break assignments or tasks into smaller parts (chunking). Give no more than 3 steps at a time.
• Use body regulation strategies such as: wiggling toes in shoes, arm pretzel, body hug, pressing hands together, cross body movements, touch fingers together one at a time.
• race a timer : predict how long it will take to complete task, set timer and make it a race.
• Race your parent or neighbor.
• Decide on an end time for a longer task or activity.

Managing frustration and Modulating emotions

• Notice emotions and use a "stop" signal like "Stop", "Chill Out", "Whoa! Hang on a minute!"
• Name your feeling. "I'm feeling ______________ ." (frustrated, excited, angry, stressed, embarrassed, jealous, scared.)
• Utilize calm-down strategies like...take a break, walk away, belly breaths, counting, positive self-talk

Memory and recall

• Use colored markers, pencils, or highlighters to underline and review important concepts
• Make and teach the use of "to do" lists, planners, colored folders, calendars, or other system of writing down and keeping track of things
• Use memory strategies such as "rubber band on the wrist" or "string on the finger"

Monitoring and regulating actions:

• Practice skills of learning, "Eyes on the speaker, ears listening, body still, mouth quiet"
• Practice biting down and holding in words that want to interrupt.
• Use body regulation strategies such as: wiggling toes in shoes, arm pretzel, body hug, pressing hands together, cross body movements, touch fingers together one at a time.