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ADHD Parenting Tip: Pay Attention To Patterns
By Rory Stern | August 27, 2008
Welcome back! Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments below!
Today’s post is really about so much more than just children struggling with ADHD or any other type of learning disability or struggle. “Paying attention to patterns” I think has more to do with just being able to anticipate what is coming at you.
One predominant theme I hear from parents of children with ADHD, is this constant state of worry (or high alert) about what is coming next. The question typically being asked, “What did my child do now?”
Or maybe it’s more of the “What’s today’s phone call going to be about?”
It’s not unimaginable to expect that this constant level of concern or anticipation eventually leads to a lower threshold, ultimately resulting in:
- Increased frustration
- Increased agitation
- Increased aggravation
- Increased stress
Patterns Can Predict The Future…
Or at least they can guide future events to help make them less painful or agitating.
When you pay attention to patterns, you are looking for:
- Consistency
- Reliability
- Triggers
- Precursors
- Other signals…
They say history repeats itself, and a child’s behavior certainly is NO exception. With or without ADHD, if we watch our children “closely” enough, we will be able to become familiar with their patterns…their habits… Ultimately resulting in greater awareness of what might be coming next.
We will never truly be able to avoid these situations…
But if we are able to anticipate them better, then perhaps our reaction to the situation will NOT be as powerful… as harsh… or as crippling…
Ultimately we are NOT trying to avoid these bad days, or bad events.
We are however, looking to anticipate events in order to REDUCE the level of reaction we have.
Bottom Line?
Think of this more as taking an offensive approach to defense. Because you know certain events repeat themselves, and hopefully, you also KNOW the outcome – you can then decrease the response you are having.
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Topics: Children, Parenting | 1 Comment »
October 2nd, 2008 at 6:34 am
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