Kamis, 28 Mei 2009

Do You Have an Attentive Child?

How can you tell if you have an attentive child? The child's behavior will indicate that he or she is attentive if they are able to follow directions, pay attention to detail and sit still for a certain period of time. An attentive child will be interested in details and will be able to listen to you instruct him or her without feeling a need to interrupt. An attentive child is one who will patiently listen to directions, process them in his or her mind and then carefully follow them.

A child with ADD or ADHD, however, cannot do this. Their brains are like a remote control on a television set that is always clicking onto another channel. Depending on how severe the ADHD is, the child may not be able to sit still for any length of time, will most likely be impulsive and interrupt you when you are talking, will get lost in thought and daydream frequently, will be unable to follow directions or concentrate on anything for any length of time.

Hyperactive children will tend to blurt out answers before raising their hand in class. They will find it very difficult to control their impulses. Their thoughts will constantly be racing from one objective to the next. They seldom finish a project, instead opt to start several different projects at once. If they do manage to concentrate on something and finish it, however, it is normally above average. Many children with ADD or ADHD tend to be highly creative individuals who often do not do very well in a controlled setting like school. They tend to flourish when left to their own devices.

You should know the signs of an attentive child as well as what to look for when it comes to ADD or ADHD. Most small children are very inattentive and have short attention spans. They have bursts of energy and always seem to be on the go. But as the child matures, he or she begins to modify their behavior to fit in to society. They see that it is not appropriate to burst forth with an answer to a question when they go to school. An attentive child will be one that will sit quietly when the teacher is talking, listen and raise his or her hand to ask a question. The ADD child will be unable to concentrate on what the teacher is saying and find it hard to wait patiently their turn or raise their hand to ask a question.

If your child is unable to follow directions, is constantly losing things, seems to be overwhelmed with school and unorganized and is constantly being called out for behavioral problems, chances are that he or she may have ADD or ADHD. If you have an attentive child, they will be able to concentrate in school and follow directions.

Ray Subs is an author and consultant. To learn more about ADD and ADHD in children, visit http://www.adhd-survival-guide.com

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