Be honest - are you one of those parents who worry about their child's apparent
inability to concentrate? Are you constantly asking, does he or she have ADHD?
Are they doomed to failure and a life of disrupting others? This may come as a
surprise, but many schools in the western world are seeing a fall in the
concentration levels of their students, especially those in the younger
age-groups. So you're not alone.
Here are three steps you can take
to tackle the problem.
Step
1: Investigate whether there is a biological basis for the child's
behaviour? Too many parents, I'm afraid, are very quick to assume there is. If
they feel guilty about their poor parenting or have low self-esteem, they often
start to blame themselves - but if their child is ill . . . well, that's
different!
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is usually
the first thing parents suspect if little Johnny or Susie is running the
teachers ragged. So let's be clear what it is.
ADHD has a biological
basis and is characterized by impulsive or hyperactive behaviour (such as
fidgeting, squirming, excessive moving about, excessive talking), and
inattentive behaviour (such as difficulty keeping sustained attention, listening
problems, difficulty following instructions, forgetfulness and lack of
organization).
If the disorder is diagnosed it can be treated by a
combination of medication and counselling. However, many parents are reluctant
to see their children 'medicated' at such a tender age and worry that the
treatment may be 'drugging' them in order to suppress their energy.
If
you genuinely think that your child has the disorder, then seek professional
advice. But consider this: medical researchers tell us that ADHD affects only a
tiny minority, around 3%-5% of school-age children. So the chances are that your
inattentive child does not suffer from it. What then?
Step 2: Observe their behaviour in a
variety of activities and situations. Can they concentrate elsewhere, or is the
problem at school only? Can they settle to read books or comics at home? Can
they sustain a session of computer games or outdoor sports? What's their
concentration like when they're watching TV or DVDs?
If they can settle
into activities they like and enjoy, then ADHD is probably not the problem. If
the lack of concentration appears to be in school only or is related to school
work (e.g. homework assignments), then you can be sure there are other factors
involved.
Step 3:
Investigate probable causes. Discuss the level of work with your child's
teacher. It could be too easy or too demanding for their individual learning
styles. It may be presented in a way that doesn't interest or motivate the
child. Perhaps it's not broken down into easy-to-manage steps. If you're not
confident about approaching the school by yourself, go along with a friend,
preferably one who has a good grasp of teaching and learning issues.
How
about the school's environmental factors? For example, are there outside
distractions that are easily visible through the classroom window? Is the
classroom too hot, too cold, too stuffy, too draughty…? Is your child sitting
next to someone who wants to play all the time - or who is suffering from
ADHD?
If you have researched the symptoms of ADHD (Step 1), observed your
child's concentration in a variety of situations (Step 2), and investigated the
learning-and-teaching environment (Step 3), then the next step you need to
take may be clearer - whether that is a referral to professional help, or an
inquiry about adjustments in school, or whatever.
There's a lot more you
could do to help your child concentrate, e.g. an examination of parenting skills
and home activities, but taking these three steps could help you eliminate some
common causes of poor concentration. So take these first steps -
today!
Frank McGinty is the author of the free 18-page report, 'How To
Combat The Concentration Crisis In Our Schools'. To pick up your free copy and
to access more free articles and answers to parenting questions drop by http://www.ParentAndTeenTalk.com
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
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