Kids ADD
Kids ADD
Kids ADD: ADD (attention deficit disorder) is a very commonly diagnosed disorder in children. Kids with ADD have difficulties with learning, as well as with forming relationships and getting along with other kids and adults. Some kids with ADD also have sensory, as well as emotional difficulties, and they may become frustrated or angry very easily.
The first signs of Kids ADD can be recognised in kids who are over the age of 3 years. These children show inattention, hyper activity and impulsivity.
The signs of Kids ADD in older kids can be all or some of the following:
- Difficulties with concentrating and staying focused- kids with ADD often have a short attention span, and are not able to sustain their attention to a task for long periods of time.
- Become distracted easily- kids with ADD can become bored of a task very quickly, and so they are easily distracted. They also have difficulties with returning their attention to a task once their attention has been lost.
- Seem to not listen when spoken to- as kids with ADD get distracted easily, they may also become distracted while a person is speaking to them, and will look around or fiddle with items around them.
- Have trouble with memory and following instructions- kids with ADD often find it difficult to remember things, and so are unable to follow instructions… especially the more complex instructions (e.g. if a teacher tells the child to fetch his book from his bag, come back to his desk, take out a pen and turn to page 43, he may miss some or all of the instructions).
- Makes silly mistakes- kids with ADD do not notice or pay attention to finer details, and so they tend to make a lot more silly mistakes than their peers.
There are various ways in which you can help your Kids ADD, such as:
- Getting your child into a routine- a routine will assist your child with organisation, as well as memory. They will be less overwhelmed when there is structure to their daily living.
- Keep tasks small and manageable.
- Keep distractions to a minimum- have your child do homework in a quiet room which has very few distractions in it. Having your child do homework in his bedroom, for example, would be very distracting, as all his toys are in his room.
- Motivate your child to exercise- exercise with help to regulate your child, as well as provide them with some of the sensory stimulation that their bodies need.
- Make sure that your child is getting enough sleep.
- Have your child think out loud- your child may be able to retain information if he hears his thoughts out loud.
- Find one on one therapy.
At Catch Up Kids, we provide one on one ABA (applied behaviour analysis) therapy to Kids ADD, as well as kids with other learning difficulties. We teach your child all the necessary skills needed to cope with school, as well as everyday living.