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Medical Video: How to Teach Children With ADHD
Raising a hyperactive child can be a matter of draining energy and mind. But as a parent, there is much you can do to help manage his behavior before your child becomes completely out of control.
Hyperactive children are often labeled naughty, even though they may be signs of ADD / ADHD
Hyperactivity is sometimes often regarded as the behavior of children, "hot worms", "bad boys", to "children who can't keep quiet". Even so, hyperactivity is one of the symptoms that underlies Attention and Hyperactivity Concentration (ADD / ADHD), a condition that at least 10 percent of Indonesian children in primary school age in 2011, and the number continues to increase from year to year, reported from Republika.
Children with ADHD generally have executive functions that do not function optimally. This executive function includes skills to plan and think before acting, managing oneself and impulses, and completing tasks.
Although the symptoms of ADD / ADHD can look very annoying to people around the child, it is important to understand that these children with special needs accidentally act like that. They want to be able to sit still, tidy up their own room after playing, and obey what their parents say, but they don't know how. That means you need to take over the executive role for the child while providing guidance while your child gradually acquires his own executive skills.
If you have a hyperactive child, first consult with your doctor to officially rule out the diagnosis of ADHD. If your child is diagnosed with ADD / ADHD, your doctor can provide prescription drugs and behavioral therapy to help your baby's condition. Meanwhile, if your child does not have ADHD, but only has a more fiery, persistent and energetic personality than other children, there are many simple ways you can do to manage his behavior.
Guide to raising hyperactive children
1. Build structures and routines
Hyperactive children - whether or not they have ADHD - will be more likely to complete a task when faced with a predictable pattern. Your job is to create and maintain structures and routines in your home environment.
Create simple and predictable rituals for mealtime, homework, play and bedtime. Every time before bedtime, ask the child to arrange the clothes he wants to use tomorrow, and make sure all his school needs are collected neatly in one special place, ready for him to take.
2. Set rules and discipline
Hyperactive children need concrete and consistent rules, which they can understand and follow. You can write home rules on a large chalkboard and hang them in a place that can be seen clearly by your little one.
Not all of his desires must be followed, but a little empathy and compromise on your part will probably effectively suppress his tantrum when he feels ignored. Recognize his feelings, like, "Mama knows you want the donut, but you haven't had dinner yet. The donuts can be eaten only after eating, "Don't forget to always apply home rules whenever and wherever, for all family members, so he will know what he should expect from others and what is expected of him.
Set clear and simple rules, equipped with a system of consequences and gifts. Give praise when he understands and follows your rules and shows how his good behavior leads to positive results, while giving as little negative reaction as possible to the child's innocence. However, still give the consequences of every bad behavior he shows.
3. Do not punish physically or shout scold
Hyperactive children show their feelings very clearly and clearly, whether it's excitement or a tantrum explosion when their moods deteriorate.
You can cool his head by teaching a simple breathing technique: take a deep breath and exhale in 10 slow counts, or ask him to clench his hands a few times until he is calm.
But, you still need clear boundaries for any inappropriate behavior. Use a "rest time" system to deal with bad behavior. Instruct the child to enter your room (or another room where there is not much distraction, such as toys) for some time to keep quiet, whenever he rebels and kicks; screaming; or throw things at the corner of the room. After it's over, explain to him why you don't like the behavior.
"Break" does not always have to be associated with negative things. If he starts to look nervous and will interfere with your work, you can offer "Deck, want to listen to music in the room (or wherever you make it as a place to" rest ") until you finish making you eat?"
Physical punishment must be avoided in hyperactive children (and children in general) because we want to teach them not to be more aggressive, instead of teaching that violence is a common thing. Children, especially those who are hyperactive, need adult role models in aspects of control and calmness.
4. Compromise
This energy outflow cannot be buried and ignored. These children need outdoor routines, such as walking, playing in the park, exercising, or just running from end to end. Guardrail will greatly help you to limit your child's movement.
It's good to avoid idle time. Long periods of unemployment can worsen the hyperactivity and even encourage them to create chaos inside the house. It is important to keep children busy to channel their energy without having to overwhelm them.
When the weather is bad, the child needs a special playroom where he can do whatever he likes without criticism. If there is no room large enough, you can temporarily modify the garage as a small escape.
Even though hyperactivity is allowed inside the house, do not stimulate it in vain. Hyperactive children can be more quickly distracted and fatigued, if there are too many activities after school. When the child is too tired, this will make him lose control and the hyperactivity will be more extreme. You may need to compromise making adjustments regarding the activities of the child at home after school based on the child's own abilities and demands for certain activities.
You also have to make a compromise when you see that there is still one abandoned child task - whether it's cleaning the house or taking a shower - when he has completed other tasks, such as doing homework, preparing school books, and feeding pet dogs.
Too demanding a child to do everything thoroughly will not only make you feel hot and dissatisfied, but also create an expectation that is impossible for a hyperactive little one.
