| How can you tell if you have an attentive child? The | | | | normally above average. Many children with ADD or |
| child's behavior will indicate that he or she is attentive if | | | | ADHD tend to be highly creative individuals who often |
| they are able to follow directions, pay attention to detail | | | | do not do very well in a controlled setting like school. |
| and sit still for a certain period of time. An attentive | | | | They tend to flourish when left to their own devices. |
| child will be interested in details and will be able to listen | | | | You should know the signs of an attentive child as well |
| to you instruct him or her without feeling a need to | | | | as what to look for when it comes to ADD or ADHD. |
| interrupt. An attentive child is one who will patiently | | | | Most small children are very inattentive and have short |
| listen to directions, process them in his or her mind and | | | | attention spans. They have bursts of energy and |
| then carefully follow them. | | | | always seem to be on the go. But as the child |
| A child with ADD or ADHD, however, cannot do this. | | | | matures, he or she begins to modify their behavior to |
| Their brains are like a remote control on a television | | | | fit in to society. They see that it is not appropriate to |
| set that is always clicking onto another channel. | | | | burst forth with an answer to a question when they go |
| Depending on how severe the ADHD is, the child may | | | | to school. An attentive child will be one that will sit |
| not be able to sit still for any length of time, will most | | | | quietly when the teacher is talking, listen and raise his |
| likely be impulsive and interrupt you when you are | | | | or her hand to ask a question. The ADD child will be |
| talking, will get lost in thought and daydream frequently, | | | | unable to concentrate on what the teacher is saying |
| will be unable to follow directions or concentrate on | | | | and find it hard to wait patiently their turn or raise their |
| anything for any length of time. | | | | hand to ask a question. |
| Hyperactive children will tend to blurt out answers | | | | If your child is unable to follow directions, is constantly |
| before raising their hand in class. They will find it very | | | | losing things, seems to be overwhelmed with school |
| difficult to control their impulses. Their thoughts will | | | | and unorganized and is constantly being called out for |
| constantly be racing from one objective to the next. | | | | behavioral problems, chances are that he or she may |
| They seldom finish a project, instead opt to start | | | | have ADD or ADHD. If you have an attentive child, |
| several different projects at once. If they do manage | | | | they will be able to concentrate in school and follow |
| to concentrate on something and finish it, however, it is | | | | directions. |