Learning to Slow Down and Pay Attention

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Learning to Slow Down and Pay Attention

• Kathleen G. Nadeau, Ph.D.

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Overview

• Getting along with others
• Feeling good about yourself
• Learning to understand your brain
• Setting goals and reaching them!
• Understanding the plus side of having a bouncing
  brain

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A childs view of ADHDfrom the inside looking out

• I hate to sit still
• I have to do boring things all day
• I cant learn all those math facts
• Its hard to listen for so long
• I try to do what my parents ask me to do, but I
  forget

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A thousand negative messages

• Im always in trouble for something

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Sometimes everything seems unfair

• I cant finish my school work on time, so the
  teacher wont let me go out to play

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The I cant Kid

• I cant get started
• I cant remember
• I cant get things done
• Feels like I cant get anything right!

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Creating a Can-do Kid
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The Rapid Rewards Program

• Immediate rewards are more effective

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To get things done, make it fun!

• Think about what is rewarding for a child.
• Make learning a rewarding experience

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Divide and Conquer

• Break things down into small parts then reward
  and praise a child for each success

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If you want to remember,you need a reminder!

• Notes
• Kitchen timers
• Visual reminders
• Launching pads
• Daily calendars

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Get your day off to a good start

• Prepare the night before
• Get up on time!
• Have a regular morning routine
• Finish your routine first!
• Always eat breakfast!

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Protein boosts performance

• Teach kids about brain fuel
• Protein
• Fish oil
• B vitamins

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Morning Exercise

• One half-hour of aerobic exercise each morning
  provides Miracle Gro for the brain

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Learning to Pay Attention in Class

• Sit up front
• Get involved
• Ask questions
• Find quiet ways to fidget

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Learning to Remember what you Read

• Get rid of distractions
• Read out loud
• Summarize each paragraph out loud
• Tell a parent about what youve read

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Getting Homework Done

• Study in short time periods
• Take short timed breaks
• Stand up or even walk while reading
• No TV or internet

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Getting along with friends

• Take turns
• Share
• Talk, dont yell when you disagree
• Let your friend choose what to do sometimes

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Learning not to Interrupt

• Listen hard
• Ask permission if you need to interrupt
• Apologize if you interrupt without permission
• Wait for your turn

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Become a good problem-solver

• Listen to the other person
• Dont interrupt
• Talk dont yell or call names
• Look for solutions that are fair for everyone

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Learning to Relax

• Do something quiet
• Take a warm bath
• Go for a walk
• Listen to calm music
• Curl up with your dog or cat

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Learning Persistence

• Set reasonable goals that arent too hard
• Keep a chart of your progress
• Earn small rewards along the way

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Learning to feel good about yourself

• Look for things youre good at
• Smile people will smile back
• Get the help you need to succeed
• Measure small successes every day