Learning to Slow Down
and Pay Attention
Kathleen G. Nadeau, Ph.D.
Overview
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Getting along with others
Feeling good about yourself
Learning to understand your brain
Setting goals and reaching them!
Understanding the plus side of having
a “bouncing brain”
A child’s view of ADHD
from the inside looking out
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I hate to sit still
I have to do boring things all day
I can’t learn all those math facts
It’s hard to listen for so long
I try to do what my parents ask me
to do, but I forget
A thousand negative
messages
I’m always in trouble
for something
Sometimes everything
seems unfair
I can’t finish my
school work on
time, so the
teacher won’t let
me go out to play
The “I can’t” Kid
• I can’t get started
• I can’t remember
• I can’t get things
done
• Feels like I can’t
get anything right!
Creating a Can-do Kid
The Rapid Rewards
Program
Immediate rewards
are more effective
To get things done,
make it fun!
Think about what is
rewarding for a
child.
Make learning a
rewarding
experience
Divide and Conquer
Break things down
into small parts –
then reward and
praise a child for
each success
If you want to remember,
you need a reminder!
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Notes
Kitchen timers
Visual reminders
Launching pads
Daily calendars
Get your day off to a
good start
• Prepare the night
before
• Get up on time!
• Have a regular
morning routine
• Finish your routine
first!
• Always eat breakfast!
Protein boosts
performance
Teach kids about
“brain fuel”
• Protein
• Fish oil
• B vitamins
Morning Exercise
One half-hour of
aerobic exercise
each morning
provides “Miracle
Gro” for the brain
Learning to Pay Attention
in Class
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Sit up front
Get involved
Ask questions
Find quiet ways to
fidget
Learning to Remember
what you Read
• Get rid of
distractions
• Read out loud
• Summarize each
paragraph out loud
• Tell a parent about
what you’ve read
Getting Homework Done
• Study in short time
periods
• Take short timed
breaks
• Stand up or even
walk while reading
• No TV or internet
Getting along with
friends
• Take turns
• Share
• Talk, don’t yell
when you disagree
• Let your friend
choose what to do
sometimes
Learning not to Interrupt
• Listen hard
• Ask permission if
you need to
interrupt
• Apologize if you
interrupt without
permission
• Wait for your turn
Become a good
problem-solver
• Listen to the other
person
• Don’t interrupt
• Talk – don’t yell or
call names
• Look for solutions
that are fair for
everyone
Learning to Relax
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Do something quiet
Take a warm bath
Go for a walk
Listen to calm
music
• Curl up with your
dog or cat
Learning Persistence
• Set reasonable
goals that aren’t
too hard
• Keep a chart of
your progress
• Earn small rewards
along the way
Learning to feel good
about yourself
• Look for things you’re
good at
• Smile – people will
smile back
• Get the help you need
to succeed
• Measure small
successes every day