ADD/ ADHD Issues

There are many that joke about having ADD due to a lack of focus in any given moment. However, for those truly suffering from ADD or ADHD it is no laughing matter. ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) or ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder) is:
 
a neurologically based condition characterized by problems with attention, impulse control, and hyperactivity…There is no definitive “test” for ADHD as there are for other medical conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure. ADHD is diagnosed based on the present set of behaviors or symptoms -- diagnostic criteria -- published by the American Psychiatric Association in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Symptoms must be present at such intensity that they significantly impair a person’s ability to function day-to-day in social, academic, or occupational settings. *
 
This lack of being able to focus and function can cause many developmental issues socially, academically, and even spiritually. It is our hope that some of these resources in the links below will help you understand ADD/ ADHD better and be able to minister to those suffering from it more effectively.
 
*(verywell.com “ADD or ADHD Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Cause”) 

www.understood.org is a valuable resource for parents with children with learning and attention issues.
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Our goal is to help the millions of parents whose children, ages 3–20, are struggling with learning and attention issues. We want to empower them to understand their children’s issues and relate to their experiences. With this knowledge, parents can make effective choices that propel their children from simply coping to truly thriving. (https://www.understood.org/en/about/our-mission)

Ministry to Children With ADHD: Q & A with 3 Experts

In almost every children’s ministry, there is at least one child with ADHD. Children’s ministers often ask what they can do to more effectively reach these kids. So, we asked three experts to help us understand ADHD.

Judy Basye has a master’s degree in educational administration with a special emphasis in special education. She’s been trained by Norfolk Institute of Learning Disabilities, taught school for nine years, worked in a learning assistance program, and is a children’s pastor in San Mateo, California.

Paul White is a counseling psychologist and has worked with ADHD and learning disabled kids for about 15 years. He does evaluations for private schools, has a son with ADHD, and lives in Wichita, Kansas.

Donna Smith* is the mother of a child with ADHD.

*Name has been changed to protect families privacy

How to Discipline Kids With ADHD

Scot Butwell, in a Children’s Ministry Magazine article, gives these 5 tips for what do you do when a child with ADHD disrupts your classroom.
  1. Acknowledge the child’s disorder. 
  2. Remind kids of clear rules and expectations.
  3. Give kids consequences for broken rules.
  4. Learn kids’ patterns.
  5. Provide positive feedback. 

Click on link above to find out more details about Scot Butwell's 5 tips! 
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This page was developed by Chris Knipp, Minister of Children at Westmore Church of God Cleveland, Tennessee.