Autism, Aspergers & PDD Nos
What you should now about autism spectrum disorders
Tips for teaching ADHD children to readby Brigitte The ADHD child has no trouble paying attention, the problem is they pay attention to everything and have difficulty 'tuning out' distractions. Therefore specific strategies need to be implemented while reading to your child. Not every approach will work so try different methods until you discover which ones works for you. Only then will the process of reading be easier for everyone. 1. If you are wanting to improve your child's reading then read. Read as much as possible and let your child see you reading. We don't just read books, throughout our daily lives we read things such as adverts, labels, timetables, newspapers warning signs, leaflets. Read them to your child and talk about what you have read. 2. Visit the library and choose books suitable for your child's reading age. If you are unsure ask the teacher for suggestions. If books appear too daunting at this stage, try looking at children's magazines or comics. One type of book which proves to be very useful are cook books. They are excellent for incorporating the following elements:- a. Reading - by reading the recipes. b. Maths - working out the measurements and quantities. c. Cooking - which allows the ADHD child to be creative and kinesthetic as well as answering his need to do something. 3. A calm environment is necessary while helping your child to read. Pick a quiet spot away from distractions. Read together and take it in turn to read pages or paragraphs depending on reading level and ability to focus. If you are homeschooling see if you can enlist a family member to help with the reading. You can even pair readers of different abilities together to enhance your child reading ability. 4. ADHD children fidget constantly so allow them to fidget even while reading. Giving them something to squeeze, tap or play with will help to keep their attention. Remember ADHD children can focus on multiple things at once, so by giving them something to do there is no longer the need to look for anything else. 5. Break down reading into small chunks. Read for a short time then allow your child to play or do something else, before turning back to the task in hand. Read another paragraph or so again then allow another break. Continue this process until you have finished the chapter or story. This method works very well because your child's brain is wired to focus on more that one thing at a time. After the reading ask for the child's account of what he or she has read, jot down his or her words and review the next day. 6. Have your child listen to stories or reading matter on tapes whilst following along in the text. Use pods and mp3 players to record reading material the child can listen to. By seeing and hearing the words being read the child will be better able to focus. 7. Use a computer to aid your child's reading. They are many 'learning to read' CDs and DVDs that can benefit your offspring and as most children love computers you can use this tool to your advantage. 8. Finally be liberal in your praise and encourage. Most children want it, particularly those that suffer from low self-esteem which is true for most ADHD children. Give rewards and positive feedback. Whichever way you choose to say 'well done' to your child, do it! They need it and it will certainly go a long way in helping them master the art of reading. | ||||||||
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