Thursday, November 02, 2006
ADHD and After School Activities
ADHD and after school activities
ADHD refers to attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder. Most children whosuffer from this disorder suffer from attention problems as well as hyperactivity. Parents of such children are well aware that inattention and hyperactivity continue throughout the day. Keeping such children busy after school hours can be as difficult as keeping them safe during the school day.
The first step while choosing the right after school activity for your child is to understand how ADHD affects him. Is your child interested in sports? Is he put off by the fierce competitiveness, or does he find it hard to get along with teammates? Does your child vocalize his feelings, or is communication a problem?
For a child suffering from ADHD, physical exercise is always beneficial. Exercise takes up the extra energy and helps to stimulate the brain. Team activities teach social skills and discipline. But, if your child shies away from team sports, you may want to look at activities like dancing, cycling, swimming or gymnastics. Martial arts not only teach techniques of self-defense but also teach self-control and patience.
If your child shows aversion to sport and shows inclination towards the fine arts, you may need to look at some other options. Acting classes are a wonderful form of creative exercise. It also provides the child with ample opportunity to develop his social skills. Music, art or dance can help the child to keep himself busy and entertained.
In case the child is not interested in any of the above, you may want him to join a Boy Scouts club or other community oriented clubs that take up social work. Cleaning a park, putting on a show, helping out in an old age home are various activities that may pique your child's interest.
Whatever form of activity you choose, make sure that you monitor your child's progress periodically. If you feel that there is no progress, you may need to change the activity. Anything that increases your child's self-esteem is good. You may enlist the help of the coach or teacher to assess your child's development.
There are certain activities that are detrimental to a child suffering from ADHD. Computer and video games are a definite NO. Since these games need no interaction, children will feel all the more isolated. These children also find it difficult to distinguish between the good and the bad messages. They may therefore show an inclination to stick to messages that are not needed. Games that need the child to sit and wait for his turn patiently tax his patience and will not be a success.
Although you would want these children to be as near to normal as possible, understanding their needs and limits will help you select the right after school activity - one that is fulfilling, tiring as well as challenging.
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# posted by Anna : 9:33 PM
Comments:
i agree with you wholeheartedly!
damien did gymnastics for a long time, he did well enough to boost his ego with medals and competitions and at the same time competed "alone" even though he was part of a team. i never pressured him but i encouraged him and i attended all his competitions.
now he no longer does gymnastics (transport and school timing caused logistical hassles) but we go to the gym. he loves the circuit because the pre-set time is so fast he doesn't get bored- he gets bored very quickly when we just do cycling or the rowing machines or the treadmill.
damien did gymnastics for a long time, he did well enough to boost his ego with medals and competitions and at the same time competed "alone" even though he was part of a team. i never pressured him but i encouraged him and i attended all his competitions.
now he no longer does gymnastics (transport and school timing caused logistical hassles) but we go to the gym. he loves the circuit because the pre-set time is so fast he doesn't get bored- he gets bored very quickly when we just do cycling or the rowing machines or the treadmill.
We've tried going to Karate a few times, under protest (from me LOL) but thankfully, Kyle gets bored so we've left early. I'm not too sure I like the idea of him learning Karate as I know he's prone to using it the wrong way. Luckily enough it only lasted 3 half-sessions... Phew :D
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www.freewebs.com/gypsychic
site is real life story based on adhd and odd
please sign my guest book maybe we can exchange links
friend from Canada
Lorraine Ward
# posted by 
: 6:39 PM
: 6:39 PM
Hi folks. My son is ADHD/ODD. He also has Lymes disease which exacerbates his conditions.
He has, in the past done some after school activities. He has always resisted them for a # of reasons. Now he simply refuses and has huge melt downs at the very mention. We took his computer away from him for a week because of his refusal to go to skating classes last week.
He rejects every suggestion and will force us to physically drag him, which we won't do at this point.
We will try making limited computer time dependent on participation.
Any other suggestions for strategies to get him to do something w/o the huge power struggle?
Thanks, CK
He has, in the past done some after school activities. He has always resisted them for a # of reasons. Now he simply refuses and has huge melt downs at the very mention. We took his computer away from him for a week because of his refusal to go to skating classes last week.
He rejects every suggestion and will force us to physically drag him, which we won't do at this point.
We will try making limited computer time dependent on participation.
Any other suggestions for strategies to get him to do something w/o the huge power struggle?
Thanks, CK
# posted by : 4:11 PM
: 4:11 PM
A 2009 study found that children with ADHD move around a lot because it helps them stay alert enough to complete challenging tasks.
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