This post is from: Life With ADHD.

ADHD Child Bill of Rights

According to the survey conducted by Information Solutions Group on behalf of PopCap Games, “casual” video games appear to lessen symptoms of ADHD by increasing attention span, providing stress relief, and improving memory strength and focus. Moreover, because of the increased sense of accomplishment experienced in playing the games, survey respondents reported enjoying this form of therapy.

Dr. Carl Arinoldo, a Stony Brook, New York-based psychologist of 25 years’ experience comments, “It seems that children with AD/HD often lack that sense of control that comes much more easily to their non-AD/HD peers. Playing casual games such as Peggle and Bejeweled, among others, is one area in their lives in which these children can experience some sense of control with the added benefit of achieving success in something. Both of these aspects, taken together, can serve to enhance the child’s self-concept and self-esteem.”

A total of 13,296 casual game players responded to the Information Solutions Group survey, with 2,728 respondents claiming they, or someone in their care, were suffering from some type of disability. Of these, 422 were identified as children, ranging in age from 5 to 17 years old, the majority falling between the ages of 8 and 16. Of the children, over half (52%) were said to be suffering with a mild (30%), moderate (55%) or severe (15%) form of ADHD. The second largest group was children with autism (21%), followed by Dyslexia (8%) and Down Syndrome (3%). Joe P. of Athens, Georgia, father of a child diagnosed with ADHD, writes in response to the survey, “He seems more relaxed and calm. We have also noticed after playing games, he can concentrate on school materials such as math, in which he has the biggest struggle, and not get frustrated with problems he doesn’t understand.”

Joanna G. of Oakland CA, a mother of four whose youngest daughter suffers with ADHD and SID (Sensory Integration Disorder), claims that all her kids enjoy the games and are calmer because they have control over something. She believes this is because “they are able to extend the time they can be focused and productive without problems and putdowns and feeling badly about themselves or being made fun of.”

According to the American Medical Association, ADHD is “one of the best-researched disorders in medicine.” However, despite all the research, no one knows what causes ADHD or how to cure it. Therefore whenever a new approach to treating the disorder is introduced, it is a welcome development — especially an approach the children actually love participating in.

Dr. Arinoldo says, “Any reasonable type of treatment that would enhance the AD/HD child’s attention span, focusing, concentration skills, and self-confidence, would be a welcome asset to parents and teachers alike.” He goes on to assert that if by playing the games, “the child’s skills can be generalized from the gaming situation to other situations, such as school, this would be an added bonus. We always want to find something that the children enjoy and that interests them when seeking ways to help them. Thus, since playing casual computer games was the children’s second choice for a leisure time activity, it makes a lot of sense to make use of the games to build on the children’s skills.”

PopCap Games is the leading multi-platform provider of “casual games” — fun, easy-to-learn, captivating computer games that appeal to everyone from age 6 to 106. According to the survey, “puzzle” games such as PopCap’s Bejeweled(R) were the #1 favorite among ADHD children.

The second favorite genre was “action” at 16% including such games as Platypus and Diner Dash. And tying for third place at 13% each were “arcade” games, with Peggle(TM) being the hands-down favorite.

SOURCE PopCap Games

This post is from: Life With ADHD.

ADHD Kids Find Relief in Video Games Study Claims

* Attention span

* Impulse control

* Hyperactivity (sometimes)

ADD/ ADHD is a chronic disorder that can begin in infancy and extend through adulthood, having negative effects on a child’s life at home, school, and within the community. It is conservatively estimated that 5-10% of our school-age population is affected by ADD ADHD. Establishing the proper learning environment at home can make all the difference for both you and your child.

Try these great ways to help enhance your child’s learning journey. They work!

1. Be creative! Create a special work space just for learning. All members of the family can use this space…just as long as they are “learning”. Have just the basics available like paper, sharpened pencils, erasers, and any other necessary tools for learning nearby, but not at the table where your child is working. The items could become an unnecessary distraction.

2. Have others in the home spend their time reading or doing some other noiseless activity somewhere else so your child is not easily distracted during homework or learning time.

3. Avoid distracting stimuli. Try not to place your child near air conditioners, high traffic areas, heaters, or doors or windows.

4. Children with ADD/ ADHD do not handle change well, so avoid transitions, physical relocation, changes in schedule, and disruptions. Stick to a predictable routine whenever possible.

5. Many ADD/ ADHD love video games and computer time! Use video games and computer time as a reward for getting their homework done. Or choose to have your child tutored online as a learning option to help with homework so you can spend time observing his learning, instead of struggling with it.

6. At the end of the learning time and homework is finished, help your child stay organized consistently by establishing a clean up routine and get his backpack packed for the next day, so it is ready to grab and go the next morning.

7. Be positive! Your child’s learning environment should include a positive atmosphere. Use praise whenever you see your child staying on task, keeping things in order, and completing assignments. Your positive words will go far in encouraging your child to be a productive, happy learner. If you choose to try these steps, I believe you will see the positive changes you have been hoping for. Your child will seem like a different learner to you and you will see your child grow in confidence. This type of learning environment is where your ADD/ ADHD child can succeed and achieve!

Karie Stelesco invites you to read “Free Report: 16 Ways To Motivate Your Child To Do Better in School…Plus, receive a ‘Live Demonstration Inside Our Unique 1 on 1 Online Classroom.” Discover how to get your child to put forth maximum effort in school and build a closer bond with your son and/or daughter. http://www.tutorfi.com/parents/

This post is from: Life With ADHD.

7 Steps Toward Creating the Best Learning Environment for Your ADD/ ADHD Child

Teach your child how to make friends by making and keeping friends yourself. Besides, the children of their parents’ friends are often natural choices for friends for children.

So have a friendly home and invite people over often. Be hospitable to other children, especially children with interests similar to your child’s – turn-taking, tracking conversations, and cooperating come more easily when children are involved in something interesting.

2. Teach small talk

Give your ADD/ADHD child specific instructions on how to make good conversation: don’t give one-word answers to questions (always answer plus something relevant), ask others about their interests, listen when they talk, if that is not possible pick up another thread from the same conversation, be positive (talk about happy things and don’t complain too much).

3. Teach grooming

One way to make a better impression on others and attract people is to look good, and a large part of looking good is grooming. Teach your ADD/ADHD child to be well-groomed always: make sure she is clean and not smelly, and her clothes are washed and pressed, though they need not be the latest fashion.

4. Teach tact and negotiation

Rather than just telling your ADD/ADHD child to be careful of the feelings of others, teach specific techniques like sandwiching negative feedback between positive sentences, and allowing others to look good by giving compliments.

An ADD/ADHD child also needs to learn about the give and take of social life. Tell her that in the long run, what we get from others is equal to what we give to them, even though in the short term things often seem unbalanced. So if she shares her toys, others will share theirs, if she waits for her turn, others will wait for theirs.

5. Teach how to read non-verbal communication

Teach your ADD/ADHD child that when she is talking with someone, if that person gives monosyllabic answers/looks at the watch or clock/does not look at her much/swings her feet or taps her fingers, it’s time to stop! There are other signs of interest, agreement, disagreement, openness, relaxation, and romance that may be very useful – she can pick them up from the websites on this subject or from books.

If you stay supportive while giving your ADD/ADHD child the space to make her mistakes and learn from them, your child will have a better chance to learn than when mom or dad are hovering around her to protect her from her own social blunders. So give your advice when others are not around, and then let her free and stay positive. Your child will feel better about herself, and learn quicker.

For more information on proven, scientific, and natural ways to succeed in spite of your ADD/ADHD without medicines visit www.3stepsadd.com/premium today. Get more information regarding ADD/ADHD.

This post is from: Life With ADHD.

Teaching Social Skills to the ADHD Child

You don’t need to be a scientist to know that areas with lots of greenery seem to calm ADHD children down, though scientific studies have shown this to be true. If you have a proper park or zoo nearby – not just a few square meters of grass surrounded by concrete – go there everyday with your kids (but even the patch of grass is better than nothing). If the park or zoo or picnic area is more than an hour’s drive away, go at least once a week.

These places are probably the only areas ADHD children can be their natural selves without having others get irritated with them. Some ADHD adults remember times trekking or fishing with their parents as the only time they got to bond with them.

2. Let Them Move

Don’t hold her hands too tight – let her hold your hand instead. Teach her what she can touch and what she should not. She can pick up and examine things at most shops, but she should be careful not to damage them.

Keep explaining – before you start, when you are out – the importance of children and parents staying together when you go out together. If she wants to let go of your hand, allow her, but tell her to stay where you can keep an eye on her.

3. When She is Unmanageable, Take her out and Enforce Consequences

If she is acting out in a public place, take her out so she does not disturb others, and enforce consequences. If she was at a place she likes, one consequence may be not taking her there any more. If she was acting out because she does not like where she was, try to find out why she does not like it. We need to respect children’s feelings – if she does not like to go to a playgroup where the others tease her, for example, you need to know about it and deal with it.

With practice, you and your child can have a good time together on your outings – most of the time! But the joys you get are worth the pain, and you must take out your ADD/ADHD children with you whenever possible.

For more information on proven, scientific, and natural ways to succeed in spite of your ADD/ADHD without medicines visit www.3stepsadd.com/premium today. Get more information regarding ADD/ADHD.

This post is from: Life With ADHD.

Managing the ADD/ADHD Child in Public