| As parents know, any child that has ADHD cannot | | | | keep them motivated to continue for a longer |
| be still for hardly a minute, let alone ten minutes. | | | | period of time. |
| It's very difficult for them to focus on any one | | | | Allow them to use their imagination during this |
| thing. Their mind wanders from one thing to | | | | activity. If you hinder them, they will get |
| another. You can help your child get focused, but | | | | frustrated and lose focus. Then you'll have to |
| it's definitely not an overnight fix. It will take work, | | | | start all over again. Don't continue to talk to them |
| diligence and patience. | | | | while they are concentrating on their project. |
| You will have to start at the point that they're at, | | | | Also, do not criticize their artwork. Encourage |
| which may mean at the very beginning. What you | | | | them to do more. Compliment them on what |
| can do to start the process is to do it in | | | | they've done. One of the things they need most |
| increments of maybe five minutes or so. Help | | | | from this encounter is encouragement. Parents |
| them to focus on an activity for the first five | | | | and guardians are the best people to provide that |
| minutes and see how they do. Make sure that | | | | for them. |
| whatever the activity is, that you are supervising | | | | It's important to make sure your child is engaging |
| them. The minute you leave their sight, that's it. | | | | in something constructive besides watching |
| The focus and concentration is gone. | | | | television. In fact, you should limit the amount of |
| Find out what activities that they like and start | | | | time that they spend looking at the tube. It may |
| from there. If they like to draw, provide them | | | | not help them retain their focus. |
| with paper and something to write with. If they | | | | Besides, they need activities in which they can |
| are small children, you may want to provide them | | | | use their skills. It's been said that ADHD children |
| with crayons. This would be safer for them at | | | | are some of the brightest children around. So |
| this stage. | | | | allow your child to expand their mind being |
| Since they tend to wander, pencils and pens are | | | | creative instead of being destructive. The more |
| out of the question. You don't want them to have | | | | you work on them with their focus skills, the |
| a potential weapon if they get frustrated. Allow | | | | better chance they have of retaining it to use |
| them to draw pictures of what they like. This will | | | | later on down the road. |