If you are a teacher, you may have at least one student in class who constantly keeps looking outside the window while you are delivering the lecture. And if you are a parent to a child who blurts out, does things that he should not, and is emotionally weak, you must be well aware of how hard it is to handle them. While these are the possible attributes of a normal child, the severity can be a sign of a serious disorder: ADHD.
What is ADHD:
Attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder is one of the neuro developmental disorders of children. As the name indicates, it is a disorder in which children are unable to pay attention, control their impulsive behaviours, or become overactive.
Symptoms of ADHD:
While most normal kids may pay less attention and switch their focus from one thing to another immediately, it is imperative to differentiate them from those with ADHD. The children suffering from ADHD may have severe problems while interacting with parents, teachers, and peers. Some of the symptoms of ADHD are:
- The child is unable to pay close attention and makes peculiar mistakes.
- Cannot focus on things or activities for a long time.
- They seem to be elsewhere when you speak to them.
- Do not complete a given task such as homework, classwork, or a home chore.
- Forget doing daily tasks.
- They are unorganized; create a mess out of the work they are assigned.
- Such children avoid doing arduous tasks that require effort, especially mental effort.
- Such children usually forget things they need for daily life like stationery, books, school papers, etc.
Tips for handling kids with ADHD for parents:
Since kids with ADHD are hyperactive, they might be climbing, jumping, moving around, and not seem to be sitting at one place for a long time; as a result, they may make careless mistakes. Also, such children are impulsive, and therefore they may interrupt or do things without thinking or act in a way that they should not. No matter how they act, it is the responsibility of parents to tackle them effectively rather than frustrating or becoming guilty in front of people.
The parents should:
- Find it out:
First and foremost, if your child has severe symptoms of ADHD, mentioned above, it is your prime duty to realize that your child does not merely have such behaviour but a serious problem that you need to address carefully.
- Seek support:
It is not taboo to have a child with ADHD; make sure you reach out to a physician or therapist for support as soon as you realize that your child is suffering.
- Maintain a positive attitude:
It is highly possible that the attitude and behaviour of your child may frustrate you, but that should not make you outburst your anger on your child. When you are calm and polite, you will be able to understand your child, and he will reciprocate effectively. But if you think you can change the behaviour of your child by shouting, screaming, and scolding, your child will become more resilient, leaving you even more stressed out.
- Spend more time with your child:
Make sure you pay lots of focus on the child with ADHD, as love and affection are priceless support systems. Children are most susceptible to emotions, and the sentiments imprint in their minds forever. And with children with ADHD, you have to be extra careful about their feelings. Don’t make your child feel ignored, neglected, or left out. Instead, make him feel precious and an important part of the family. Get involved with him thoroughly, play games together, and appreciate him for every little thing he does.
- Help your child with schoolwork:
Teachers usually complain about children that they are less attentive in the class, they do not do their homework at all times, and the list goes on. It means your child direly needs help in academics. And it is the responsibility of the parents to pay some attention to the child’s academic performance, or at least help him make an effort. The parents should help their child do school work and make it a fun activity. Reward and appreciate your child for completing his work. But if he is not able to complete a task, stay focused, or make careless mistakes, show support rather than punishment. For example, the child may struggle with essay writing. You can help him practice by writing chunks and getting the online assistance of many writers who write essays in the UK & other countries as well. You can also provide them with games to learn different skills.
Tips for teaching kids with ADHD for teachers:
- Be compassionate:
First of all, it is important for teachers to understand the aptitude of each of their students. They must consider all the impactful factors that can halt the learning process of a student. When it comes to students with ADHD, the teachers must be compassionate and considerate about their situation.
- Assign work that suits pupil’s skill level:
If there is anyone who is most aware of the academic and non-academic abilities of a child, that is a teacher. They are the supervisors who constantly keep an eye on the learning behaviours of the children. If a student is suffering from ADHD and is unable to complete his tasks to a certain level, you offer the student help by assign him a task that suits his level so that he feels accomplished. Also, if he easily gets distracted in the classroom but participates actively in one particular activity, you must focus on working on flourishing the skill in the child rather than lambasting on what he is unable to do.
- Give them a break:
The students with ADHD find it difficult to sit and focus for a long period. Therefore, give them a break so that they are able to digest all that they have taken and relax.
- Increase activities that excite them:
Increase activities in class in which children with ADHD are most likely to participate. Since these children are hyperactive, they will easily participate in classroom activities. These children also prefer to learn through graphics and images. You can even leverage their abilities to use a holistic approach to teaching.
- Limit distractions:
Children suffering from ADHD are easily distracted, so it is important to make sure that you omit all the distractions around and inside the classroom. Seat them away from the door, windows, pencil sharpeners, etc.
In sum, the parents and teachers must handle and teach children with ADHD with extra care and support. These children are unable to focus on one thing for a long time and are easily distracted by things; they may act without thinking and making careless mistakes.