Friday, September 25, 2009

Handwriting on the Desk and Other Random Parenting Hints

Handwriting on the Desk and Other Random Parenting Hints

If your child is in elementary school and keeps forgetting the same things, type up a "to do" list and tape it to their desk. When one of our sons was in fourth grade, the teacher had encouraged her children children to do this - not just ADHD kids. I saw 'how to label a paper', 'what to pack for home', 'what to unpack in the morning', and 'before I speak'. (I'm not saying whose that was!) It's a life skill to make lists, so all children should learn how.

If in the chaos of changing classes, your middle schooler can't remember what's needed for each class, here's a hint for you. It was sent in by Barbara. "My eleven year old son…just started middle school. Everyday he leaves with an index card in his back pocket. On the index card is his schedule for that particular day. We list the subjects in order along with the classroom locations. He is allowed two locker stops during the day and one at the end of the day. On the index card we note the times for locker stops with a bold black line. Then he knows which books to take with him to classes, until the next locker stop. Otherwise he would probably carry all of his books with him, all day long, for fear he would forget something. It works for us!"

Get your children in the habit of saying positive things. One family I know has a "best thing" time each night at dinner. Each member of the family - even the teenagers! - tells the most positive thing that happened to them that day. Another encouraging exercise is to go around the table and have each person say something positive about the other family members. Of course, our oldest son's favorite compliment used to be, "He's got an awesome big brother." Ron turned 23 yesterday. He'd probably say the same thing if we did this tonight. :)

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Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Focus Pocus

"Focus Pocus" was Ron's Facebook status the other day. I didn't ask him about it, but I can only imagine why he posted. Maybe in the throes of studying, Facebook beckoned. More likely, in the throes of Facebooking, his conscience called him to study.

Anyhow, it's a great title. There are many little 'magical' strategies that help improve focus. None of them work all of the time - nothing works all of the time for our kids! All of them work some of the time, and chances are one of the following will work for you today:

Limit the Viewing Area - Cut down on distractions by limiting what the eye can see - or what the ear can hear.
  • When reading, use a plain 3x5 or 4x6 index card with a small area cut out in the center for lines of print to show when reading. This blocks out everything on the page except what is being read. Make your own, or purchase this Typoscope for fifty cents.

  • In class or at home, give your child a study carrel. It can be as elaborate as the ones they use at the library, or as simple as a box cut out. (When Joe was in fourth grade, that's what his teacher used.) Check out these, which are cheaper than I ever imagined: ClassroomProducts.com.

  • Have your child do homework in an area that is visually plain. Limit things on the wall, on shelves, on the floor. Close the door, or block the view with a sheet. My office - which used to be study central - still has only one picture on the wall.

  • Keep the television off - even if it's in the next room. Our guys could hear - and pay attention to - the television if it were on downstairs and across the house. We had the unpopular rule of no television for anybody on school nights. I know, we're strange.


Take It In Spurts Hooked on Phonics taught me this strategy - and boy does it work. Break things down into smaller bites, like a telephone number.
  • Instead of giving your child one page with 20 math problems, copy the problems five at a time onto four sheets of paper. You can copy by hand or using a photocopier with an enlarger.

  • When your child has material to read, change it up. Read the first section to your child, have her read the next section aloud to you, then read the third section silently. As always, make sure the material is understood.

  • Make small goals/rewards for work. Section an orange, and say, write two definitions, then have a section. Do part one of the homework contract, and run out and get the mail.


Keep the Real Task in Mind - There are multiple skills at use for each task your child is given. It's important to figure out the primary purpose of an exercise, and make sure that is where the major focus is placed. In order to do this, it's okay to occasionally do some of the non-focus stuff for your kids. You should let the teacher know when (and why) you give extra help.
  • If your child has problems in the math book, you copy them onto the paper. (It's about math, not copying.)

  • Occasionally, read social studies out loud to your child, instead of having him read it silently. (The important part is the content.)

  • Gather everything needed for the homework session. (Work on organization tomorrow!)


Inspired by Ron, I'm getting ready to release a new guide called "Focus, Pocus". In it, you'll find hint after hint for helping your child to pay attention. If you'd like advance notification for "Focus Pocus", sign up for the newsletter.

See you there!


Kayla

PS You can also sign up at the website at www.goaskmom.com.

Monday, September 14, 2009

ADHD Hint - Saving Time & Money

freezer cookingA long time ago, a friend of mine had the coolest system that she used to simplify her life during school. She cooked all at once on the weekend, and made meals for the entire week. Then she stuck the meals in her freezer, and used them on those busy school nights when she would have ordinarily gone out for fast food. It's an idea whose time has come back around.

With the busi-ness of school, the tightness of our pocketbooks, and the new awareness of just how unhealthy restaurant food can be, it's really time to give home-cooked meals a second chance. Those of us with ADHD kids have added reason to save time and serve more nutritious meals. I've just found a guide that will help you do just that. I love it! It's called "Freezer Cooking Made Simple", and it makes meal cooking easy, but since you do it mostly all at once - it makes it fast. You owe it to yourself - and your family - to take a look at this deliciously practical guide at HillbillyHousewife.com. Check it out. You'll thank me next time this week!

Visit our website at http://www.goaskmom.com.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

An Encouraging Word - And ADHD Success Story

It's always so encouraging when readers send in success stories. Here's a great one*.

Our oldest, an eighteen year old boy, has matured so much in the last year. A little over a year ago, he wasn't that connected to the youth group, hadn't found his spot, he was at a deadend with school and gravatating to "friends" who were probably only good for providing him with self medicating products which we were watching extra closely. Then he lost his best friend, who died from an accident a year ago. Since then, we found (no - God led us to ), an amazing sports program that started out being for homeschool boys and ended up also including at risk kids as well. It is led by some of the most Godly men I've ever met - with a heart for seeing these young boys grow into Godly men. Our son joined a team for the first time in his life. He now attends their school and comes home, sits down to homework, gets up early to work on homework without me asking - a miracle in this house. He also tried out and joined the youth band as the drummer.

He found his spot. He's been overseas on a mission's trip, and is now interning at the church in the youth group over all youth events and worship activities with a college graduate who has become his mentor. This week he's leading the band in an entire set of songs that not only glorify God but are a remembrance of his friend's life...All that to say, as moms, as parents, we know God has a purpose for them and when it doesn't follow the path and pattern that most seem to follow, it just makes us dig in a little deeper to help them find their way to success and their purpose because we know its there.


I'd love for you to add your success story in the comment section below. We all need an encouraging word now and then!

Visit our website at http://www.goaskmom.com.

*Note that the names and details are changed for the sake of privacy: