STUDY TIME
(From Parenting with grace)
REPEAT ... RECORD (WRITE)... REAFFIRM .. REINFORM
Children with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) often have difficultly holding their attention, organizing tasks and attending to detail. This makes studying challenging and usually parents have to be more involved with homework to see that it gets done. Try different strategies until you find a system that works for your child. You cannot like another grade 8 child’s mother say “He must now study on his own. He still needs you.
I just want to remind that structure is very important. The ADD child wants to know when you are planning things for him. All planning should be done with or in consultation with him. If you are planning lifts for him tell him immediately .. why not involve him in the planning? Let him know what your plans are for tomorrow, for the weekend.
STUDY ENVIRONMENT
The add child needs a peaceful place to study.
Be creative! Help him create a special work space just for learning. It must be a place where he can study without interruptions. Have everything available like paper, sharpened pencils, erasers, and any other necessary tools for learning nearby, but preferably not at the table where your child is working. The items could become an unnecessary distraction. He must have adequate space available with all the rest on another table next to him. Continuously check that he still has all he needs. He has a challenge and you must help him.
Have others in the home spend their time reading or doing some other noiseless activity somewhere else so your child is not easily distracted during homework or learning time.. Avoid distracting stimuli. Try not to place your child near air conditioners, high traffic areas, heaters, or doors or windows.
Help him organise his study place until it is comfortable and ready for him. It must look so nice that he just want to sit there. Perhaps it is time for Dad to add a few shelves.
Instructions
1
Make sure that your child come home with all his homework written down. With much patience and encouragement help him to realise that he will not remember everything. Tell him how you struggle to remember. A homework book is his most important book.
: 2
Work collaboratively with your child to set up a schedule that he can follow after school. Help him break the time up such that you are alternating work time with relax time. Place the schedule in a well trafficked place in your home. Consider laminating the schedule so your child can check off each block of time as he moves through the schedule.
- 3
Allow your child to create a fun personal study area as suggested at the beginning. Keep it free of sounds from the TV, radio and other distractions. Make sure the area has numerous study materials such as highlighters, post-it notes, pens, pencils and anything that makes studying more interesting. The area should be someplace where you can supervise your child while he works.
- 4
Follow a routine in your day-to-day activities. Children with ADD thrive on routine. If you have an established routine all day, it will make the routine of studying easier for your child. Eventually, the routine becomes a habit.
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Remember healthy snacks in between. Your child must eat something every 2 1/2 hours. It is more important for the ADD child than for others.
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- 5
Help your child study by practicing study strategies. Ask your child to read a paragraph aloud and then question your child about the details. Allow your child to create fun flash cards that you can use together to study. Attach the cards together with a ring so your child can bring them anywhere to study. Create songs with your child that cover pertinent study material. You and your child can be creative together. For some pictures help for others main words in red.
- 6
Establish a regular bedtime. Children who go to sleep at the same time each night have fewer night wakings and sleep more soundly. Don’t make it too early for the high school child and your ADD child will take longer to finish his homework.
- 7
Enforce your schedule and reward your child when he follows the schedule and completes all assignments in his assignment book. Use a point sheet to track your child's progress throughout the week.
If your child has trouble remembering studies or tasks, you can help him by honing his memory. Not everyone is born with strong recall, but you can enhance what your child already has with a few practices:
- 1
Have your child write down the summarised information repeatedly and the very act will help him to memorize. Although children may see this as a punishment, explain that it will help them to remember things. Summarising or writing main words in different colours.
- 2
Teach keen observation. Remind your child to look around and memorize what he sees. You can make it a game. Have the child look around the room, and then have him close his eyes and repeat what he saw.
- 3
Work out methods that fits each child. Each child is an individual who learns differently. Observe the child and see what works as a stimulus for him. Association may do it or acting out parts or singing songs can provide the stimuli. Help him get words or numbers to remember the summaries by.
- 4
Use the computer. The computer fascinates children. Find games, such as Concentration, that will hold their interest while they learn to memorize.
Teach your child the importance of completing tasks to the best of his abili
The ADD child is a very lovely child. They need and want their parents as well as their teachers to understand them. It takes a lot of time and commitment. Beware that your child does not drift away because you do not have the time and do not make the effort.
Remember that your appreciation of your child helps to shape his and your image of God. It is important that you encourage your ADD child through praise, through scripture quotes without preaching) and motivational phrases. If your child can understand, if it can become Rema to him, Phil. 4 verse 13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
On the other hand it is very important that you talk to God about your child. Thank God for your child. I have four wonderful children and I thank God always for them. Ask God
To help you see your child’s positive traits To fully understand your child’s situation To give you patience to deal with those traits that conflict with yours and to help you remember the positive side of those characteristics To help you accept what you cannot change in your child To be in charge of your child and help him in every aspect. Father and mother enjoy in your child, enjoy your child, and enjoy the challenge to bring him up. He is such a wonderful gift to you.
