Interesting research hit the news this morning dealing with ADHD and kids. I know that's a big parenting concern for many of you. Here are the findings:
The National Institute of Mental Health reported the most detailed study ever of the brains of kids with ADHD. Brain images clearly show that crucial parts of the brains of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder develop more slowly than other kids' brains. The section that puts the breaks on their inappropriate actions, the ability to focus attention and remember things from moment to moment is just slower to mature. The development lag can be as much as three years.
That's critical information for parenting. It means we need to really tailor our strategies so that our children can process.
Here are five research takeaways that might help a child with a short attention span. I used them when I worked as a special education teacher:
Use the Rewind Method: Say what you want. Then stop. Ask your child to rewind (or repeat) what you just said
Limit requests: Start by asking your child to do just one thing ("Pick up your toys"). When he can successfully comply with one request, then add two. And then three.
Reduce distractions: I taught attention disorder kids for years and quickly recognized that sounds and sights are distracting. It seemed to help if I put my students in their own little "cubbies." I simply put plain bulletin boards on three sides of their desks so they had private study carrels.
Chunk the tasks: Kids with shorter attention spans get overwhelmed with big assignments and often give up. So fold the assignment into thirds or fourths so your child sees only one part at a time. Then tell him "Start with this." Add each part after the first is successfully completed.
Use timers: Any child with a short attention span is going to have trouble sticking to any task for a long while. You're better off asking your child to work for the average length for his attention span plus one minute (i.e., if he can only concentrate for five minutes, aim for six). Gradually add time as your child's attention increases. A sanddial works like a charm. Tell him, "Work until the sand runs out. Then take a break for two minutes. And then work again until the sand runs out."
Let me know what you're doing to help your child succeed
Best!
Michele Borba
Dr. Michele Borba is the author of Nobody Likes Me, Everybody Hates Me: The Top 25 Friendship Problems and How to Solve Them.
What's this?
译文:
多动症和你的孩子
早上有一条新闻，说的是有一个有趣的研究，对象是多动症（ADHD,Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder）和孩子。我知道这是个很多家长们很关心的话题，以下就是研究者的发现：
国家心理健康研究所在对
有多动症的孩子的大脑进行仔细研究后，公布了一份报告。大脑的图像显示，患多动症的孩子的大脑中，一些关键的部位发育得比其他正常孩子慢。这使得他们控制不恰当的行为、集中注意力以及记忆力等等能力成熟得比别的孩子慢。这个发育的差距可以达到三年。
这个信息对家长们很重要。它意味着，我们真的需要调整教育方式，从而让我们的孩子能健康成长。
下面是这份报告提出的五条建议，对那些爱走神的孩子们也许会有所帮助。过去我在做特殊教育老师的时候就是照着它们做的。
采用复述的方法：你对孩子说完要求以后，停下来，让孩子复述你刚才说过的话。
限制要求的数量：从让你的孩子只完成一件事开始（比如“把你的玩具拣起来”）。当他能成功地完成一件事的时候，再加到两件，然后再是三件。
减少让他们分心的事物：我教育患多动症的孩子有好多年了，很快地我意识到，声响和景物会让人分心。让孩子们待在他们自己的小屋子里似乎很有效。于是我在他们的书桌的三面，只放了简单的黑板，这样他们就有了自己独立的学习空间。
把任务分割开：爱走神儿的孩子们在处理复杂的任务时，往往会感到力不从心，经常会半途而废。所以，把任务分成三到四个部分，这样孩子一次就只看到任务的一个部分。然后告诉他们“先做这个”，当前一个部分成功完成的时候，再给他们下一个部分。
采用累加时间的方式：凡是爱走神的孩子，总是不能长时间地专注于某项工作。所以，你最好把孩子的工作时间，控制在他注意力集中的平均时长再加上一分钟这么长的时间内（比如，孩子要是能专注五分钟，就把工作时间定为六分钟）。随着孩子注意力集中的时间的增加，再逐渐加长工作时间。这个时候，沙漏可以起到设定目标的作用。你可以告诉孩子：“工作到沙子全部漏过去的时候，休息两分钟。然后继续工作，直到沙子再次漏完。”
你要是有什么帮助孩子成功的方法，也可以告诉我。
祝好！
米歇尔 博巴