Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have a hard time focusing on the activity they're doing as well as on classroom lessons, which can lead to impulsive actions even though they know it's not allowed. So how can we teach children with ADHD to pay more attention, and all will be explained in this article.
Inform your child when changing activities
ADHD can make it difficult for children to transition from one activity to another. Providing a heads-up can help the child have time to think and prepare for what will happen next. One way to do this is to use nonverbal signals. For example, you can tell your child that you will tap on the table as a sign that they will be called to answer a question. Similarly, this method of teaching children with ADHD can also be applied at school when the teacher calls the child up to answer a question.
Give feedback calmly
Because children with ADHD may have difficulty regulating their emotions, giving feedback quickly, calmly, and concisely can be very helpful. Yelling or anger can make things worse for the child.
Ngoài việc đưa ra phản hồi, ba mẹ cũng có thể ứng dụng cách chuyển hướng chú ý để dạy trẻ tăng động. Lưu ý, việc chuyển hướng có thể là một chiến lược ứng xử tích cực nếu như bạn chưa thể đưa ra phản hồi ngay tại thời điểm đó để trẻ không cần phải làm quá vấn đề lên, tuy nhiên sau đó bạn vẫn nên giải quyết vấn đề của trẻ một cách nhanh chóng và riêng tư nhất có thể.
Chia thành nhiều phần hướng dẫn khi thực hiện việc gì đó
Trẻ em mắc chứng ADHD có thể gặp khó khăn khi làm theo những hướng dẫn có quá nhiều bước. Ba mẹ có thể dạy trẻ tăng động bằng cách chia nhỏ hướng dẫn thành các phần dễ quản lý. Việc làm này có thể tốn nhiều thời gian khi mới bắt đầu hoạt động, nhưng sẽ giúp bé tiết kiệm thời gian trong suốt quá trình thực hiện và nhận được kết quả mỹ mãn.
Ví dụ, bé cần phải tạo nên một sở thú nhỏ từ việc nặn các con vật từ play dough, then the plan will include:
Part 1: Have the child imagine the animals that will be in the zoo and remember them by writing or drawing them.
Part 2: Choose colors for each animal.
Part 3: Decide the order in which to mold the animals.
Unlike other kids who merely think a moment and start creating, when teaching children with ADHD you need to give very clear instructions and allow them enough time to find the materials and the colors they want.
Dạy trẻ tăng động bằng cách đặt hẹn giờ
When you set a time limit for the activity the child needs to do, children with ADHD will find it easier to focus. You can use a countdown timer to let the child know how much time remains for the task before the break. The timer also serves as a notification tool for the children about transitions between activities.
However, some kids cannot tolerate time pressure and become extremely anxious and restless whenever they have to look at the countdown timer. Parents should observe whether their child shows these signs; if so, do not apply this ADHD teaching method.
Sử dụng danh sách kiểm tra và lịch trình
Managing time and organizing tasks clearly is a challenge for children with ADHD. They may even struggle to get to class or complete tasks on time, and parents will see their child spend a lot of time and effort looking for and arranging belongings.
To teach children with ADHD to follow a schedule, you can accompany them in organizing their belongings in the early days, then remind them to return items to their proper places. Additionally, you can print out a plan and post it on the study desk to help them remember what needs to be done, avoiding forgotten tasks and reducing stress as the time to perform them approaches.
Take breaks to let the brain rest
Many parents ask their child to sit still for long periods to finish studying, but this is very difficult for someone with ADHD. Instead, let the child take a short break so the brain can work more effectively.
There are three types of breaks you can apply to teach children with ADHD.
Method 1: Take a break by allowing the child to move, such as standing up and walking around or stretching.
Method 2: Have the child sit and engage in mindfulness exercises or sensory activities.
Method 3: Take deep breaths to calm down and allow them to settle before continuing the activity, helping them focus more.
Use thinking time
Children with ADHD can sometimes rush to answer a question or say the first thing that comes to mind. The “thinking time” we refer to here is a teaching strategy to help children with ADHD develop the habit of taking more time to process information.
Parents pose the question and ask the child to pause for three to seven seconds before answering. This pause helps the child think about their answer before responding. Once accustomed to thinking time, the child will understand that they don’t need to hurry and will become more focused.
Be with your child wholeheartedly
Parents should remember that children with ADHD do not intentionally misbehave or lose focus. In fact, the child often tries very hard to pay attention or stay organized but cannot succeed. Therefore, parents need to be forgiving and empathetic toward their child. Only when the child feels understanding from their parents will they open up and accept help.
The eight effective methods to teach children with ADHD compiled by Mykingdom. We hope that every child grows up healthy and happy in the loving embrace of their parents.
