Working with ADHD children?

I have ADHD and I know from expereince that you can't make them focus. you may be able to teach so that they are more interested, Even then their attention with fade in and out. That is the challenge in teaching ADHD students. If they are on the proper medications and proper dosages then you will find it easier to deal with them. If not, good luck trying to keep them on the same page.

...

These are some of the most difficult type of students to have. By law, instructors must take them and make reasonable accomodations to handle them. Because they are difficult, they drain the energy out of instructors, and they distract the other students.

An instructor is supposed to make reasonable attempts to accomodate them, like hiring aids. When this is too financially difficult, then the instructor (and ADHD student, and other students) suffer through it, or deny the child's entry.

However, the federal government, and maybe some state government, provides relief by way of a 50% tax credit toward the cost of accomodating them. Also, there government-sponsored programs that make self-education easier to handle special-needs people.

That being said, simple games are not enough. Handling these types of students requires changing your mindset. That means not having to stand on the respect principal, like having students stand at attention for more than 10 seconds, or to be quiet and without fidgeting. You have to constantly, patiently, and consistently remind them to bow in respect, or to say "thank you", "hello", and "goodbye". When you repeat an order for most children 2 or 3 times, it can be annoying. For these children, you may need to repeat an order 10 or 12 times - and you should not show your annoyance. They can't help it. You need to be patient.

Often, the worst cases hear 1/2 or even 1/3 of your instructions, so it would appear that they are not listening. So when you go into sparring, for instance, and you have a rule - like "no face contact" - you need to have a methodology in place to be sure they get and understand the instruction each and every time. You need to have consistent routines, but not so rigid that the routine becomes boring. You need to be VERY active, VERY loud, VERY attentive, VERY lively, and all with a VERY GOOD ATTITUDE. With these children, the less talk, the better. Some children thrive on explanation and detail, but ADHD students usually cannot. When you have both types in a class, that's why you need the aide or assistant.

So games are a small insignificant part of your plan - they're important - but your mindset is the biggest factor.

The games you choose should be no different than for students who don't have a social or emotional affliction like ADHD. Whatever your games are, make sure they are martial-arts-relevant. Having a dodgeball game can be fun, but where's the martial relevance here?

Kicking and punching drills, rolling and falling drills, sparring... these are all that is necessary - nothing more. Just change your mindset, and you should be fine.

For what it's worth, get a good book on the subject. Go to your local elementary school, and speak with the special services department head and ask for recommendations for the age group you're targeting. It also helps to channel your teaching methods to that which the school uses, so that there is consistency in your learning.

Good luck!

To be honest I would not recommend games for teaching with this group. Games are a good way to lose control of a class if you do not have good control over them to begin with.

For me what helps is separating the kids and putting them next to someone who is very focussed (I don't really care about rank when doing this- just focus) and then I praise the focussed student for a nice stance, technique etc. Kids LOVE praise so often they will make themselves look like the student I just praised and then I praise that student. Also when explaining things I use a lot of audience interaction such as "This is used to block your _____" (and I point at my face) and the kids will yell out face. Or I will have them repeat back what I just said though I keep things positive with this if a kid can't repeat it back I will stage whisper and then now I know they got my main point. Taking a small 1 minute stretching break during transitions (such as from basics to forms also helps). I also have a rule that if we get everything I want done (basics, forms, and sparring) then we will play a game. It doesn't happen many times (probably 3/15 classes) but If I remind the kids of our deal its a good way to increase focus and have the kids police each other for a bit. If I tell a kid they need to be quiet I might get a response for 3 minutes or so but if another kid tells them to be quiet it last quite a bit longer.

My son has ADHD, he used to be identified age 6, however I knew there used to be some thing unsuitable whilst he used to be three, however the healthcare professional regardless that i used to be an over involved mom. My son took ritalin and it did not do him any damage, nonetheless i entirely comprehend if that's no longer the foundation you desire to take. The important factor is nutrition, if you'll be able to make an observation of what he eats and you'll be able to establish the matters that set him off. Caffeine and sugar are disastrous so prevent coke, chocolate matters like that. It is fundamental so that you can get support, luckily my son slept and I am marred so used to be no longer by myself, assess together with your well being guest for respite care, despite the fact that it's one night time a month. With ADHD kids the aren't serious about some thing for lengthy so you're going to have issues whilst he is going to college as they want extra one to at least one and no longer all college furnished it thoroughly, earlier than you get to that degree you're going to ought to talk to the top instructor of your elected college and give an explanation for the problems and ask what they are able to present to support you.Also omega three drugs are well and ordinary. My son is just about thirteen now and so they do develop out of it to an volume however the issues difference as they come to be older. Try to maintain his events strict because it does support, if he is aware of he's going to consume presently or cross to mattress at the moment. Good good fortune you're no longer by myself and do not ought to cross via this in your possess

No games, but give them plenty of martial arts challenges. The last thing they want is you treating them specially. They already know they are different and want nothing more than to fit in but don't know how. You will be surprised, they do deliver if you stay patient but firm with your requirements and they will meet the challenges. A lot of my ADHD children have become above average martial artists maybe because they are challenged they are used to earning things.

Things for you to know and make adjustments:

The kids will not look at you when you speak but will look all over the place appearing to not pay attention at all. Check with them and you will find that most of the time they heard every word you said and understood. It is important that you take no offense in that and brush them off as not paying attention.

I let the kids stay in 'open leg' stance when I explain things and watch the kids how much they can take before going to the next thing. I gradually increase the time and the kids never even know you are conditioning them to slow down and hold still.

ADHD kids will thrive if you let them do well so emphasise honestly the things they do good in. If they improve let them know that they are improving but still need work. Don't patronize them when they don't do well. They are smart and know the difference. They don't want to be told something they know is not true. ADHD kids rarely get praise and are labled as difficult and even trouble makers. It is important that you don't feel that way. Tell them what they do well and what they don't, one thing at a time on the don'ts to work on. They will try to please you more than your regular kids if you treat them with respect. They try a lot harder so give them credit for that without cutting them too much slack.

I have raised a son in martial arts without games with ADHD and many kids with really good results. Check with the parents but after about 1-2 months I have gotten the child to calm down considerably.

However, keep in mind you are not someone to fix ADHD but a martial arts teacher. If the child has no interest in martial arts and the parents just put the kid in your class because they have heard martial arts is good for ADHD children you will not succeed and the child will be a disruption to your class. This only works if the ADHD child wants to learn martial arts. The discipline to learn has to come from within the child. You can not make them 'behave'. You will find that many ADHD children have no trouble sitting still for hours playing video games yet they can not sit still for other things. It is because the video game is something that interests them. The draw back is that with the video games there are no social skills to be acquired so being in a martial arts class is an extra challenge for the child to also learn social skills and to develop a relationship with the teacher and the other students. The interaction skills in martial arts are more important than in a regular school setting because martial arts is a physical activity and you need each other to learn. In a school classroom you don't necessarily need as much social skills and you can stay more intraverted and do fine.

I teach children in general a lot of coordination drills to improve flexibility, balance and agility but they are not games. My kids do shoulder rolls, cartwheels, handstands, kick ups, iron bridge, walk overs, etc. Body awareness is very important. I don't believe the Chinese were dummies incorporating all those things into martial arts however you also have to learn other things like proper kicking and punching and all the other martial arts skills.

Above all stick to your guns. Follow through with what you say and if you have no intention to follow through don't say it. Make good on promises come hell or high water. This is important for the kids to respect you. Don't feel you need to adjust your class to the child by playing games. Accommodate but within the rules of how you run the class. Let the child adjust to the class. A lot of parents with ADHD children think they have to let the child get away with more. Less rules and boundaries will make a child feel insecure and wonder if you even care. Kids thrive with fair rules and feel safe within boundaries. They do not like guessing games and will take advantage of loose boundaries never adjusting to acceptable social.

BTW my kids' classes are 1 hour long, ADHD or not.

try this i have kids in my gym with that too and our trainer gives them this

http://www.evernutrition.com/index.php?page=shop.p...