| ADHD child working alone | | | | humans are required to do must be mastered by |
| Today's article is prompted by a question from a | | | | the ADHD child first. |
| concerned parent. | | | | Often times the problem starts not because the |
| The question was simple and direct, asking 'Why | | | | ADHD child isn't able to work alone, it is that they |
| can't an ADHD child work alone?' | | | | have never had to work alone before. Think |
| In my experience and the experience of many | | | | about how their lives are organized. Usually the |
| child psychologist as well child psychiatrist, an | | | | parents are the ones who have to get them out |
| ADHD child can very much work by themselves. | | | | of bed, perhaps coerce them into getting dressed. |
| Of course it takes a lot of effort and energy to | | | | Then beg them to eat and finally persuade them |
| cultivate the self restraining habit but nonetheless | | | | to get on the car to go to school. All their whims |
| it is not only possible but doable. | | | | and wishes are tended to immediately, there is no |
| A child with ADHD is gifted with many talents. | | | | chance for them to learn to become independent. |
| One of them is hyperfocus. Hyperfocus is a state | | | | So can we do to help the ADHD child? |
| of focus whereby they are so absorbed into the | | | | The answer is very simple. Learn to communicate |
| things that they are engaged it that it literally | | | | in their language and help them love the process |
| shuts down their perception of all else happening | | | | of learning. Many ADHD children have short |
| around them. This blessing like any other is a | | | | attentions spans so we are told. The truth is that |
| double edged sword. Let me give you an | | | | they are easily distracted. This means that in any |
| example. | | | | given situation you have to create the ideal |
| Suppose you are looking after an ADHD child who | | | | environment that minimizes distractions. One |
| is playing soccer with his/her friends. The match is | | | | where they are comfortable enough to be in but |
| an intense one and you can see that he/she is | | | | not so comfortable that they feel bored. |
| really getting absorbed into it. One of the other | | | | Next match their learning preferences by |
| kids make a mistake and the ball goes hurtling | | | | interacting with them. This usually takes the form |
| towards the road. The ADHD child's eyes are | | | | of playing. Play to the ADHD child's preferred |
| totally focused on the ball. All his/her energy | | | | sense. If they are kinesthetic move about more, |
| forces him/her to maneuver and pursue the | | | | hug them, kiss them, use their arms, legs, head |
| soccer ball despite whatever obstacles may be in | | | | etc. If they are of auditory preference then talk |
| their way. As the ball bounces towards the busy | | | | to them, use language such as listen, hear, talk |
| street, he/she runs with all his/her might with the | | | | etc. The same goes for the ADHD child that loves |
| sole purpose of getting the ball. They enter the | | | | to use their visual sense. Get them to use their |
| hyperfocus state and literally shut out all external | | | | eyes, make pictures in their heads, use words like |
| perceptions. In their mind, there is only them and | | | | see, picture, imagine, pretend etc. |
| the ball, and they are going to get it. | | | | The whole learning process is easy when they are |
| The above scenario happens not just with ADHD | | | | having fun. So the goal to get an ADHD child to |
| children but also with normal children. The only | | | | learn something and do it by themselves is to get |
| differentiating factor is that the ADHD child will | | | | them to like the subject or better yet love it and |
| have more hyperfocus events. Imagine what | | | | then own it. |
| would happen if the ADHD child could harness | | | | Many parents I see cannot bear watching their |
| their hyperfocus and apply it to studying. What | | | | child struggle for a short time while learning and I |
| would happen if they applied it to learning music? | | | | fully understand. But here is the catch, if you as |
| Or perhaps physics, like Einstein? | | | | the parent, guardian, teacher do not have the |
| So let me get back to the question, 'Why can't an | | | | patience to allow the ADHD child to learn at his |
| ADHD child work alone?' There are a few very | | | | her own pace then I'm afraid the implicit |
| important implied meanings that we as parents, | | | | assumption that an ADHD child cannot work alone |
| guardians and teachers must be aware of. The | | | | will become a self fulfilling prophecy. |
| question assumes that an ADHD child cannot | | | | Be strong, be kind, be fun and learn to |
| work alone. That is of course not true. It is simply | | | | communicate the joy of learning to your ADHD |
| in the early stages, they need to learn to develop | | | | child. You will find that once they understand the |
| the habit of doing things themselves. Notice that I | | | | value of learning and start to love it, everything |
| said they need to develop the habit of doing | | | | else will become easy too. |
| things themselves, this involves dressing | | | | My best wishes to you and your children. |
| themselves, eating themselves, cleaning | | | | If you have any questions, simply write to me at |
| themselves etc. All the basic chores that we as | | | | questions @ the adhd specialist . |