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ADDvisor Volume 2 Index
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
===================================
TIME MANAGEMENT AND
SELF-AWARENESS
=======================================
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.
========================================
HINTS FOR SETTING UP A HOME
POINT SYSTEM
========================================
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.
=====================================
RESOURCES
=====================================
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
_______________________
Alan R. Graham, Ph.D.
Bill Benninger, Ph.D.
ADDvisor.com
Voice: 1-866-ADDvisor
Fax: 847-824-2386
Email: Alan@ADDvisor.com
Bill@ADDvisor.com
Web: www.ADDvisor.com
c) Copyright 2000 Alan R.
Graham and Bill Benninger. All rights reserved
The above material may be
retransmitted or distributed to whomever you wish as long as not a
single word is changed, added or deleted, including the contact
information. However, you may not copy it to a web site.
Republication of "The
ADDvisor" in paper media is encouraged and permitted by
organizations and associations which serve parents of ADHD
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issue is reprinted in its entirety without charge and includes the
contact information. With advance permission, we are happy to edit
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Republication is also encouraged
under other circumstances, however, the advance permission of Alan
R. Graham and/or Bill Benninger must be obtained in the event that
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individuals or by organizations other than those mentioned above.
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