Children With ADHD Need to Learn How It Looks and Feels to Pay Attention

How do people know you are paying attention? Draw your child's attention to each aspect of your
What do you look like when paying attention?  Howbehavior that illustrates you are paying attention.
do you feel when you pay attention?  All too often,Now it's time to change roles.  You are the speaker
students with ADD and ADHD can't answer theseand your child is the listener.  Play the recorder and
questions.ask your child to demonstrate the behaviors he hears
In order to really get control of their ability to devoteon the recording.  Practice until your child shows he
the right amount of attention to a task at the right time,understands and can model the correct behaviors.
students must understand how their body looks andMake a list of attentive behaviors and post in your
feels when they pay attention.child's room to refer to during homework and put a
The following role playing activity can encouragecopy in the front of every notebook or binder.
students' insights by drawing their attention to the bodyHow does attentive behavior look to others?
language that illustrates strong listening.The following signs of good attention are easy to
Have your child play the role of the speaker, readingdemonstrate and observe:
two or three paragraphs from a book or article.  The- Eyes focused on the speaker and/or the visual
parent will take the role of the listener.  As you listenmaterial (such as textbook, board, etc.)
to what your child is reading, talk about the behaviors- Sitting upright, feet on floor, hands on desk or in lap
that show you are listening (see below for a list), and- Head level or tilted slightly to one side
use a digital recorder to record your observations.- Response or reaction is "on topic" and appropriate to
Play the recorder for your child and model eachthe context (e.g.
behavior again as it is mentioned on the recording.