ADDvisor Vol 2 No 16

	ADDvisor
	For People with ADHD & Those Who Love Them
Subscribe Me to the ADDvisor Newsletter		Bill Benninger	Alan Graham

Number 16 August 18, 2000

In this issue:

1. Time Management and Self Awareness

2. Hint for setting up a Home Point System

3. Resources - Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Second Edition by Larry Silver

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TIME MANAGEMENT AND SELF-AWARENESS

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With school starting, kids going off to college and business waking up from its summer lull, it’s time to get back in the "swing of things" and organize ourselves for the coming year. One of the most difficult things that all those individuals with ADHD, be they children, adolescents and adults, struggle with is time management. Here we present some practical strategies you can employ to help you and/or your child manage your time better.

Many of these ideas come from a brochure created and distributed by the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois (where, incidentally, my two daughters will be attending this fall.).

How do you develop your own style for managing your time and your work? Self-awareness is key. If you are a parent you may need to help your children become aware of these items. If you are an adult, look inward.

Be aware of your biological rhythms and use them to your advantage, e.g. are you best in the AM/PM, do you work better on a full or empty stomach, etc.

Be aware of the importance of rewarding yourself for progress. Reward accomplishment not intention. Parents can arrange behavior modification programs to help in this process. Adults can ask significant others in their life to help. Divide work into smaller pieces. It will become less overwhelming.

Be aware of the physical characteristics of your work environment. Make it conducive to your concentration. Parents can arrange this for their children, in consultation with them.

Arrange your work area so that your back is to traffic flow

Close your door, open it selectively

Find and use a special space where friends can not find you.

Return phone calls when it is more convenient, or unplug the phone.

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HINTS FOR SETTING UP A HOME POINT SYSTEM

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Last month, we listed the steps to take to build a behavior system that works. Today we will elaborate on developing a home point system. This program is also described in Barkey's Taking Charge of ADHD.

1. For younger children, find a jar, coffee can, shoe box or anything that can be used as a bank and get plastic poker chips that can given as rewards for desired behaviors. Up to age 6, the chips should be worth one point apiece. After age 6 through about age 8, white chips can be worth 1 point, red chips=5points and blue chips=10 points.

With older children, a sheet of paper can be used to record points. It may be difficult to get a teenager to buy in to this type of program.

Compile a list of privileges that your child is interested in working for. This should include every day privileges such as TV time, video game time, renting videos, etc. as well as special privileges such as going to the movies, going out to eat, buying a toy or video game, etc.

Next, compile a list of the behaviors you most want to change. Start with only one or two so you are focused as well as providing your child with focus. State these behaviors in terms of what you want your child to do, such as, "be respectful to others" instead of "Don’t hit your sister." You can go on to explain what being respectful means in concrete terms: speaking in a normal tone, using kind words, etc.

I find that dividing the day into 1,2 or 3 hour blocks, depending on their age and ability to inhibit impulses, is useful in creating the program. A matrix is created with the time slots along the side and the behaviors to be targeted across the top. In each cell of the matrix, the number of points earned is placed or the number of chips to be put in the jar.

Determine the exchange value for the points or chips. Generally, at least 60% of the possible points earned in a day should be equal to the every day activities that are listed as privileges. This way your child can save points while also doing the things that are enjoyable. Remember: We want to design this program so it has the greatest chance for success. Give out bonus points or chips for desired behavior. Give lots of points at the beginning to help "lock in" the program. This also assures that the program can be successful.

Consider:

Review the list of desired behaviors and privileges regularly. Add or subtract as necessary to maintain interest and success.

Reward with points or chips for almost any good behavior. Remember: you want your child to be successful.

Never reward prior to a desired behavior but then give the reward as close in time to the desired behavior as possible.

Both parents should administer the program. It is most effective that way.

Always smile when you reward your child. Tell them what you liked. This will increase the likelihood that they will repeat the desired behavior.

Make a commitment to sticking with the program for at least two months. Don’t be afraid to manipulate and change the program to help assure its success. If you find that you can’t make it work, consult your therapist, if you have one. If you don’t, get one.

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RESOURCES

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Although it is designed for professionals, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Second Edition by Larry Silver, MD (1999) is an excellent guidebook for the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. You can click on the ADD Warehouse banner on this page to purchase this book.

CONTACT INFORMATION

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Alan R. Graham, Ph.D.

Bill Benninger, Ph.D.

ADDvisor.com

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Bill@ADDvisor.com

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