Child Attention Training Parent Handbook

Author: (German) Raut
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: What is attention deficit? How to identify it? How do children with attention deficit behave? Are they really different from other children? If the answer is "yes," then how are they different? Attention deficit/hyperactivity is used to describe behaviors in children who are more easily distracted, impulsive, overly reactive, and restless compared to typical children. This condition is particularly evident in preschool and school-aged children, but it often begins to manifest even earlier. We aim to give readers a basic understanding of these issues, how they develop, and familiarize them with relevant terminology.
For children with attention deficit, it is very difficult for them to sit quietly and focus on one task consistently, whether at school, doing homework, or playing. These children often exhibit frequent signs of distraction, restlessness, and impulsive behavior. For example, if they are playing with blocks and hear a phone ring, they immediately rush to answer it; once they lose interest in talking to their grandmother, they quickly go to the kitchen for juice because they are thirsty; in their haste, they spill juice all over the floor, only to then immediately run to bother their mother who is on the phone.
These children often seem endlessly energetic. It seems nothing can tire them, prevent them from climbing and moving around, or make them settle down for a moment of quiet rest. When playing with siblings or peers, these children frequently engage in conflicts because they often fail to follow the rules of the game. They have little patience or willingness to wait or take turns, preferring to immediately satisfy their own needs. This makes it hard for them to make friends, and others are reluctant to include them in games. School teachers often complain about their behavior and performance.
Such children can become aggressive and struggle to get along with others. In school, teachers often complain that these children are easily distracted, unable to concentrate, interrupt frequently, and lack thoughtful consideration for what is being said, leading to many mistakes. Their academic performance is also poor: their handwriting is messy and illegible, their notes are disorganized, they make numerous careless arithmetic errors, and they generally dislike reading. The issue is not that they are falling behind; rather, their attention span and persistence differ from typical children, making them less interested in school and learning.
In all similar situations, the behavioral problems of children with attention deficit are quite similar: they are very impulsive, lack forethought, and react quickly; their focus of attention differs from that of typical children—new things immediately capture their interest; they find long-term repetition boring and tedious, and they become impatient when asked to wait; they do not see the need to follow rules or think things through; if asked to sit still, they become restless after only a moment.
Behind these various issues, parents, siblings, peers, and teachers often consistently complain that these children cannot sit still, forget what they are supposed to do, cannot control their energy, and cannot sustain attention for the required duration. All these limitations are encompassed within the term "attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder." For clarity, this book will only use the terms "attention deficit" or "attention deficit/hyperactivity."
This condition often begins to manifest in preschoolers, such as restlessness, difficulty sleeping, or staying awake all night. Or, they may be easily distracted, irritable, or prone to anger. Some children even exhibit sudden crying spells in infancy, whereas typical infants have regular sleep and wake cycles, but children with attention deficit do not. However, adults often do not take these early signs seriously.