After a four year study on this subject, Mark Rapport has reported in the Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology that secondary movement actually facilitates learning. We should therefore encourage some sort of the following activities providing they do not disturb anyone else in the vicinity. While kids are studying, it will be perfectly alright to let them do the following:-
• chew gum
• bounce on their seat
• swivel on a chair
All this type of secondary movement actually helps to keep the working memory in action. This is what ADHD kids suffer from most because this memory is very slow to kick start but if we can keep it ticking over, then we are well on the way to better focus and a longer attention span.
What we can do is to buy wiggly seats or a suitable stability ball so that kids can wiggle away to their heart's content while trying to learn. The same goes for when they have to solve a problem while doing homework.. Telling them to sit still could be one of the most counterproductive things we could do!
How else can we help our kids to pay attention.
The essential thing is to break down tasks and not to issue two or three commands one after another like a shotgun. The ADHD child is likely to lose it after step one. The best thing is to break down the instructions and teachers should also be doing this when they know that there are some ADHD kids in their classes.
The sad fact is that a stimulant medication using an amphetamine is not going to have any long beneficial effect on working memory. That is the bad news because it means that the effects of these drugs are limited and of short duration.
In a way, this is good news because it forces us to think outside the box and to rely more and more on behavior therapy and ways we can help our ADHD kids to learn.
Thinking outside the box
Other ways we can help kids is to make sure that everything is signposted and post its are used to help overcome short working memory. We can make sure that the following are in place:-
• post its at strategic points to help them get organised
• one assigned place for keys and other essentials near the hall door
• encourage kids to make to-do lists
• stimulate use of SMS and instant messengers to help with remembering appointments
• always break down instructions
• always get eye contact when telling them what to do
• keep distractions such as a turned on TV to a minimum when telling them what to do.
As more and more new ADHD studies are done, one fact is emerging very clearly and that is how we need to move away from such a heavy reliance on ADHD medications and to look at the whole child and the environment he has to operate in. The UN estimates that 85% of the stimulant medications are produced and consumed in the USA. Now that should give us food for thought.
I Can't Sit Still!: Living with ADHD (Live and Learn Books), A story of a child who has ADHD--attention-deficit disorder--and is mistakenly perceived as being unruly and incapable of following instructions. Ultimately, this little boy overcomes this problem with help from the family doctor, his parents, and his teacher.
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