supporting scouts with adhd tips for parents and scout leaders

Supporting Scouts Supporting Scouts With ADHDWith ADHD

Tips for Parents and Scout Tips for Parents and Scout LeadersLeaders

HyperactiviHyperactivityty

ImpulsivityImpulsivityInattentionInattention

Characteristics of Characteristics of ADD/ADHDADD/ADHD

The Tip of the IcebergThe Tip of the Iceberg

Hidden below the surfaceHidden below the surface

Characteristics of Characteristics of ADD/ADHDADD/ADHD

HyperactivityHyperactivity ImpulsivityImpulsivity InattentioInattentionn

PhysiologicalPhysiologicalFactorsFactors

Weak “Executive Weak “Executive Functioning”Functioning”

Sleep Sleep DisturbanceDisturbance

Impaired Impaired Sense of TimeSense of Time

Delayed Delayed SocialSocial

MaturityMaturity

Not Learning EasilyNot Learning EasilyFrom Rewards andFrom Rewards and

PunishmentPunishment

CoexistingCoexistingConditionsConditions

LearningLearningDifficultiesDifficulties

Low Low FrustratioFrustratio

nnToleranceTolerance

Hidden below the surfaceHidden below the surface

ADHD SCOUTS HAVE ADHD SCOUTS HAVE GREATGREAT ATTRIBUTES TOO!ATTRIBUTES TOO!

Spontaneous

Excited

Dramatic

Inquisitive Carefree

E a s y – g o i n g

Happy-go-lucky

Energetic

BrightEngaging

Clever

Eager

Creative

Enthusiastic

Unique

E x c e p t i o n a l

Tips for ParentsTips for Parents

If your Scout has ADHD, If your Scout has ADHD, let let your Scout leader know.your Scout leader know.

Tell him Tell him

what what

works wellworks well

ANDAND

what what

does does notnot help. help.

If your Scout takes medicationIf your Scout takes medication

to help him focus at school, to help him focus at school,

it may help him focus better it may help him focus better

during during Scout activities Scout activities

as well. as well.

You may You may

want to want to

discuss discuss

this issue this issue

with your Scout’s physician.with your Scout’s physician.

Prescription medication is the responsibility of the Scout taking the medication and/or his parent or guardian. A Scout leader, after obtaining all necessary information, can agree to accept the responsibility of making sure a Scout takes the necessary medication at the appropriate time, but BSA policy does not mandate nor necessarily encourage the Scout leader to do so. Also, if state laws are more limiting, they must be followed.

Make sure your Scout knows Make sure your Scout knows

that his medication that his medication

is is meant to meant to

help him help him focusfocus, ,

not to not to

make him behave make him behave

or “be good.”or “be good.”

Be sure to tell the Scout leader what Be sure to tell the Scout leader what your son’s needs are if he is going onyour son’s needs are if he is going on– a day trip a day trip – a weekend camping trip, ora weekend camping trip, or– a week at summer camp.a week at summer camp.

There are many things the leader There are many things the leader

can do to help your Scout can do to help your Scout

be successful and have fun— be successful and have fun— if he is informed.if he is informed.

Consider getting trained to be a Scout leader yourself.

Tips for Tips for Scout LeadersScout Leaders

Try to let the ADHD ScoutTry to let the ADHD Scout

know ahead of timeknow ahead of time

what is expected.what is expected.

When activities When activities

are long or are long or

complicated, complicated,

it may help it may help

to write down to write down

a list of smaller steps.a list of smaller steps.

Repeat directions one-on-one Repeat directions one-on-one

when necessary, when necessary,

or assign or assign

a morea more

mature buddy mature buddy

to help himto help him

get organized.get organized.

Compliment the Scout whenever Compliment the Scout whenever you find a genuine opportunity.you find a genuine opportunity.

Ignore minor Ignore minor

inappropriate inappropriate

behavior if it is behavior if it is

not dangerous not dangerous

or disruptive.or disruptive.

Provide frequent breaks and Provide frequent breaks and opportunities for Scouts to moveopportunities for Scouts to move

around actively but purposefully. around actively but purposefully.

It is NOT helpful It is NOT helpful to keep to keep ADHD Scouts ADHD Scouts so active that so active that they are exhausted, they are exhausted, however. however.

When you must redirect a Scout,When you must redirect a Scout,

• Do so in private, in a calm voice, Do so in private, in a calm voice, unless unless safety is at risksafety is at risk..

• Avoid yelling. Avoid yelling.

• Never publicly humiliate a Scout. Never publicly humiliate a Scout.

• Whenever possible, “sandwich” Whenever possible, “sandwich” correction between two positive correction between two positive comments.comments.

Be aware of early warning signs, such Be aware of early warning signs, such as fidgety behavior, that may indicate as fidgety behavior, that may indicate the Scout is losing impulse control. the Scout is losing impulse control. When this happens, try aWhen this happens, try a

Private, nonverbal signalPrivate, nonverbal signal or or

Proximity controlProximity control (move close to the Scout) (move close to the Scout)

to alert him that he needs to focus. to alert him that he needs to focus.

During active games and transition During active games and transition times, be aware when a Scout is times, be aware when a Scout is starting to become more impulsive starting to become more impulsive or aggressive. or aggressive.

Expect the ADHD Scout Expect the ADHD Scout

to follow the same rules to follow the same rules

as other Scouts. as other Scouts.

ADHD is ADHD is NOTNOT an excuse an excuse

for uncontrolled for uncontrolled behavior.behavior.

If it has not been possible If it has not been possible

to intervene proactivelyto intervene proactively

and you must imposeand you must impose

consequences for consequences for

out-of-control out-of-control

behavior, behavior,

use time-out use time-out

or “cooling off.”or “cooling off.”

Offer feedback and redirection in a Offer feedback and redirection in a way that is respectful and that way that is respectful and that allows the Scout to save face. allows the Scout to save face.

When Scouts are treated with When Scouts are treated with respect, they are more likely to respect, they are more likely to respect the authority of the Scout respect the authority of the Scout leader.leader.

Keep cool!Keep cool!

Don’t take challenges personally. Don’t take challenges personally.

ADHD Scouts ADHD Scouts

want to be successful, want to be successful,

but they need support,but they need support,

positive feedback,positive feedback,

and clear limits.and clear limits.

Find out about medical needs. Find out about medical needs.

Make sure you have what your Make sure you have what your council requires to ensure the council requires to ensure the Scout’s medical needs can be Scout’s medical needs can be met,met,

OrOr have the parent come along. have the parent come along.

If you must administer If you must administer medication, don’t tell the medication, don’t tell the Scout that it is a “smart pill,” Scout that it is a “smart pill,” or that it will make him or that it will make him “behave.”“behave.”

Offer opportunities for purposeful Offer opportunities for purposeful movement, such as movement, such as

• Leading cheersLeading cheers• Performing in skitsPerforming in skits• Assisting with demonstrationsAssisting with demonstrations• Teaching outdoor skills to younger Teaching outdoor skills to younger

Scouts Scouts

This mayThis may• Improve focus, Improve focus, • Increase self-confidence, andIncrease self-confidence, and• Benefit the troop as a wholeBenefit the troop as a whole

ADHD Scouts are generally ADHD Scouts are generally energetic, energetic, enthusiastic, enthusiastic, and bright. and bright. Many have Many have unique talents unique talents as well. as well.

Help them use Help them use their strengths their strengths to become leaders to become leaders in your troop.in your troop.

Buzz Group Buzz Group ScenariosScenarios

Buzz Buzz

GroupGroup

DebriefingDebriefing

Why Scouting Why Scouting

Is a Great ProgramIs a Great Program

for Youth With ADHDfor Youth With ADHD

Scouting is a Scouting is a

well-thought-out, well-thought-out,

highly structured program highly structured program

that provides that provides

a step-by-step sequence of skillsa step-by-step sequence of skills

for Scouts to master.for Scouts to master.

Scouting promises Scouting promises fun,fun,

friendship,friendship,andand

adventure.adventure.

Scouting offers frequent Scouting offers frequent positivepositive recognition. recognition.

ScoutingScouting develops develops social skillssocial skills

andandleadership leadership

skills.skills.

Through systematic Through systematic EExplanation,xplanation,

interactive interactive DDemonstration, emonstration,

and and GGuided practice,uided practice,

Scouting Scouting EEnables ADHD nables ADHD Scouts to discover and develop their Scouts to discover and develop their unique strengths and interests. unique strengths and interests.

Small actsSmall acts

can have can have

great great consequences.consequences.

The ADD/ADHD IcebergThe ADD/ADHD Iceberg adapted adapted by permission of Chris Dendy, by permission of Chris Dendy,

Teaching Teens With ADD and ADHD: Teaching Teens With ADD and ADHD: A Quick Reference Guide. A Quick Reference Guide.

Global Marine Drilling Global Marine Drilling in St. Johns, Newfoundland in St. Johns, Newfoundland

published the photograph of the iceberg. published the photograph of the iceberg. A diver for the company took it A diver for the company took it

when the sun was almost directly overhead.when the sun was almost directly overhead.