supporting scouts with adhd tips for parents and scout leaders
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Supporting Scouts With ADHD Tips for Parents and Scout Leaders. Characteristics of ADD/ADHD. Impulsivity. Hyperactivity. Inattention. The Tip of the Iceberg. Hidden below the surface. Characteristics of ADD/ADHD. Impulsivity. Inattention. Hyperactivity. Physiological Factors. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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.