| How one ADHD child went from A's to F's--in just a | | | | excitement or fun that is associated with hockey, and |
| couple weeks--using hockey cards. This technique can | | | | plug it into boring science homework? |
| work for any ADHD child, no matter what their | | | | There are a few things that we can do. |
| interests are, is fun and easy to do, and works like a | | | | Number one is that we can make science class more |
| charm on grades... | | | | fun. |
| I love to tell this story about an ADHD child who went | | | | I said "You live in a small town. Can we have a talk |
| from F's to A's in science using hockey cards. | | | | with the teacher?" His parents said, "The teacher might |
| There was this kid with ADHD symptoms that I | | | | be boring, but is very understanding, and would love it if |
| worked with clinically who was a brilliant kid (as anyone | | | | he had some techniques to deal with his ADHD |
| with an ADHD child can relate to). He was getting | | | | symptoms." |
| really bad grades in science class. I mean, he was | | | | I said, "Look. Number one, tell the teacher that this boy |
| getting F after F, whereas he was able to get | | | | is allowed to always have hockey trading cards with |
| A’s in other classes. This is a phenomenon we | | | | him in class and to be playing with them." |
| find often with the ADHD child. | | | | Then I turned to the ADHD child and said, "The next |
| He said it was because he really didn't like the | | | | thing you want to do, for your bookmarks for all your |
| teacher...the teacher was really boring. That's what the | | | | textbooks at school, is start using duplicate hockey |
| ADHD child will often say. However, I wouldn't doubt it, | | | | trading cards. The extras that are just sitting around, |
| because he had done well in that subject in previous | | | | start using those as your bookmarks in school. |
| years. | | | | "The other thing I would like you to do is go ahead and |
| I said, "Do you or don't you want to get better grades | | | | get a hockey poster, and use those hockey posters |
| so you don't have to have your parents bothering you | | | | of your favorite sports figures as your book covers, |
| all the time?" He said, "Yes." | | | | instead of paper bags. Use those as your book |
| I said, "If you could do it and not really have to think | | | | covers. While you're in class or while you're studying |
| about it, how about that?" | | | | these books at home, stand up your hockey cards all |
| "Sure." | | | | around so if you're going to be thinking about hockey |
| I said, "Here’s what you do. What are you | | | | anyway, have it be a direct connect to the work |
| interested in? What do you think about all the time? | | | | you're doing." |
| What are you able to focus on?" He said, "Nothing." | | | | Then I said, "When you're doing homework, crank up |
| His parents came in, and I said, "Mom and Dad, what is | | | | your favorite music, and wear your hockey jersey. |
| this kid able to focus on like nothing else?" They said, | | | | Actually get fully dressed if it’s not too warm. |
| "He can't focus on a thing. He has an | | | | Get fully dressed in your hockey uniform that you play |
| auditory-processing disorder, ADHD symptoms, and | | | | games in while you're doing homework." |
| everything else. His brain doesn't have the ability to | | | | Guess what happened? A couple of weeks later, this |
| focus. He can't focus on anything for more than 30 | | | | ADHD child was getting an A in the class because we |
| seconds." A common response from parents of an | | | | associated every aspect of science with hockey. |
| ADHD child. | | | | He was smart enough, because he's an ADHD child |
| I finally said, "What is the one thing that you always yell | | | | and all people with ADHD symptoms are much |
| at him about doing, about getting distracted by, when | | | | smarter than average. He just needed to be shown a |
| he should be doing something else?" | | | | way to solve the problem. He immediately understood. |
| They said, "Hockey, the sport. He loves hockey." I said, | | | | In fact, this ADHD child was even smarter, because he |
| "Wait a second. This kid loves hockey?" I asked him, | | | | figured out how to apply the same principle to his other |
| "What do you think about when you're in science | | | | classes, and he’s still doing great to this day. |
| class?" He said, "Hockey." | | | | The first premise for being successful with the ADHD |
| "You're thinking about hockey when you're in science | | | | child or anyone with ADHD Symptoms is you've got to |
| class. Do you ever have dreams about hockey?" | | | | let them do things that work for them. Very often, the |
| "Almost every night." | | | | things that work for them are things that the ADHD |
| "Interesting. What do you watch on TV?" | | | | child has been taught or told not to do. |
| "Hockey." | | | | Who tells you to go take hockey cards and put them |
| "Is there anything you like to collect?" | | | | in your books, make them into book covers, and get |
| "Hockey cards." | | | | dressed in hockey clothes so you can do better in |
| "What sports do you play?" | | | | school? |
| "Hockey." | | | | No, they just say, "Work harder." That’s just not |
| Are you starting to notice a pattern? | | | | okay. It does nothing to help the ADHD child improve. |
| I said, Aha! This kid’s so focused on hockey | | | | The second premise is to go with what the ADHD |
| that his brain is completely occupied by it. He’s | | | | child's brain is already focused on anyway, and just |
| not able to think about anything else and stay | | | | simply integrate that into their life. |
| interested, because he’s so excited about | | | | If you have an ADHD child, or even have ADHD |
| hockey. That’s not an inability to focus. | | | | symptoms yourself, think about how you could make |
| That’s an over-ability to focus...again, a common | | | | this work for you. And if you'd like to find out more |
| but overlooked ability that the ADHD child has, in fact | | | | about how to help an ADHD child or someone with |
| anyone with ADHD symptoms usually has. | | | | ADHD symptoms use their ADHD symptoms to |
| How can we take that interest, love, passion, | | | | accomplish anything they want in life, see below! |