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Article #8: Adhd & Add, Children Count

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Class Dismissed, When I need to do something, and since I
Millions of children long to hear each don't think and act at the same time; the
day those wonderful words Class best thing for me to do is sit down and
dismissed. However, different children write out the steps ahead of time. Then I
respond to those words differently. Most have follow the list. By following the
students learn fairly quickly that when list, I get it done and if I am
the teacher dismisses them that they need distracted, I know where to go to find
to check their homework, put the right out what to do next. Before I finish, I
books in their backpack, make sure they check the list to make sure I did all of
have the materials they need, straighten the steps.
up the desk and possibly put up their The same process can be followed when
chair and then leave. But the ADD child helping your child be successful. By
responds to Class dismissed by bolting sitting down ahead of time, prompting
out the door leaving homework, books, them to write out the necessary steps,
materials, jacket, backpack, etc. behind. and impressing on them to follow the
Why Punish them for things they can't list; you reduce the multi-step activity
control? to one action.
Our pleadings, scoldings, groundings, and As an example, when the teacher says
bribings fail to create a long term Class dismissed, your child will open up
solution. What can we do to help our their binder to find the list posted on
child be successful? the inside cover.
This is only one example of a much larger 1. Do you have your homework written down
pattern common to ADD. The reason for into your calendar?
this behavior is not to avoid homework, 2. Do you have the books you need for
it is not to make us mad, it not that homework?
deliberate. ADD people struggle with 3. Do you have the homework paper?
thinking and acting at the same time. 4. Do you have the supplies that you need
They just do. They just do the one for the homework?...
response that comes to their mind and If they follow the list, they succeed.
usually the one that brings the most I know, how in the world are we going to
immediate pleasure. make sure the list is followed?
This also explains why when you tell your ADD people lose concentration by
little angel to hang up her jacket, get definition, they need ways to remind
out her homework, get a snack from the themselves what they should do next.
refridgerator, and settle down to do Plan, do and review can be a very
homework, she will get a snack and not do powerful tool once added to the goals and
the rest. You will probably find her in rewarding yourself for each step, this
front of the TV enjoying her treat. Would reinfources us too this step as positive.
this make you mad, if so know the Listed below are the steps of Plan, Do
syptoms, so you can be part of the and Review. Plan
sloution not the problem! 1. Determine the necessary steps in
What can we do to help our child be order.
successful? 2. Determin the necessary items.
One important principle for training 3. Determine a reasonable time per task
successful habits for ADD children is: Do
Separate the Thinking from the Doing. 1. Follow plan consistently
Often at the moment of action, ADD people 2. Monitor each step
have a hard time thinking in steps; 3. Celebrate completion
therefore, steps are often missed. I Review
suffer still from this problem as an 1. Check for completeness
ADDult. I compensate by a process I call 2. Check for accuracy/quality
Plan, Do and Review. I try to make sure 3. Evaluate and revise plan
there is a goal in each step, I stop and By separating the thinking from the
think is this correct, if not why and I doing, especially for routine tasks, you
continue to do this step by step and it can help your ADD child succeed in life.
really helps.






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