There are many children within our society today who have been diagnosed with ADHD. It may even feel like it is occurring more frequently than in the past, but this is not the case. It is only as a result of more recent studies that we have been able to recognize this condition. The fact is that 3 to 5% of children globally have ADHD. Unfortunately, there are very few adults who know anything about this condition and even less who have the correct information. This has then led to many misconceptions about ADHD. For example, many people believe that it is a behavioural problem. If only it was that simple. Another misconception is that only children suffer with ADHD. The truth is that 30 to 50% of those children diagnosed continue to have symptoms into adulthood.
What is ADHD?
ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. While this acronym is useful it is also deceiving. All children with ADHD may suffer from lack of concentration or attention, but not all of them suffer from “hyperactivity”. A child may not be referred for bad behaviour, but they still may be failing at school. ADHD is not a behavioural problem, but a medical condition caused in the brain. This dysfunction is thought to be due to an imbalance in the brain’s neurotransmitter chemicals, noradrenaline and dopamine. This imbalance is mostly found in those parts of the brain that allow for problem solving, planning ahead, understanding others’ actions and impulse control.
A typical child’s brain will receive messages from the world around them and decipher what is important and what is not. Important messages will then be taken to the appropriate part of the brain, in order to coordinate the correct course of action. An ADHD child’s brain, however, will receive all the information without much deciphering on what is important and what is not. This information is then acted upon before the appropriate part of the brain has coordinated the correct course of action. In other words, they will often act before they think, in a more literal sense.
What to look out for – Behavioural symptoms
There might be a child in your Children’s church or youth group that is displaying these symptoms. Be aware of the fact that most children with ADHD have the social and emotional maturity of a typical child two-thirds their own age. They will lack emotional understanding and independence. You need to bear in mind, however, that every child is different and they may not display all of these symptoms.
1) Inattentiveness – lose focus of their attention
A child who suffers from ADHD will often become bored or distracted very easily. They will tend to start many tasks and finish none. This inattentiveness often leads to short – term memory loss because they are easily distracted from the task at hand, even by their own thoughts.
2) Impulsiveness – Act now think later
I feel the reason why most people believe that ADHD is a behavioural problem is due to this very attribute, impulsiveness. Bad behaviour seems to follow these children. This is because they act first and think later. For example, if another child is playing with a toy and they want to play with it. They will just grab the toy from the other child without thinking about the consequences. This sort of behaviour is normal in younger children, but as they get older their behaviour should change. They learn how to interact with their peers in a more appropriate manner. However, a child with ADHD will be socially immature by comparison.
Impulsiveness can also lead to impatience. Many children will interrupt others while they are talking and call out in class.
3) Over activity
As these children get older they become restless, fidgeting and have difficulty remaining seated. Even while they are in a seated position they will be moving – they will tap their fingers, jiggle their legs or fiddle with something or someone around them. These children will always be busy. They will walk around the classroom touching and moving everything and everyone.
4) Social problems
As we discovered earlier, children with ADHD receive all the information and will act before their brain has decide upon the appropriate response. This has a detrimental affect on their social skills. They will find it difficult to interact with their peers. They will come on too strong and overreact to teasing. They will also often misread accepted social cues. These children are very sensitive and loving, but because of these social problems they struggle to make friends and become isolated. This will lead to a low self-esteem (see point 5).
5) Low self-esteem
As was stated earlier, children with ADHD are very sensitive. Yet because of their social problems they sometimes have very few friends if they have any friends at all and as a result they develop a low self- esteem.
Their lack of concentration, short term memory, bad coordination and disorganisation will cause them to fail in a number of areas. This can also leave them with a very poor self-esteem.
6) Bad coordination
These children often have bad fine and gross motor skills. These are probably linked to their impulsiveness and inattentiveness. Their handwriting will be affected by their fine motor skills. It will often vary in size, starting off small and then becoming bigger. It will also be very untidy. With their gross motor skills it will affect their sports. They will often trip and fall.
7) Disorganisation
Most children with ADHD are disorganised and untidy. They will be untidy in the way they dress and they will leave a mess behind them.
8) Variability – Dramatic difference
From one Sunday to the next it will seem like you are dealing with two completely different children. On a good day they will be productive in their work and be well behaved. However, on a bad day they will get no work done and will be seemingly out of control. There will be very few or no days that will be in between these two extremes.
Making the diagnosis
If a Children’s Church teacher is concerned that the child has ADHD they should find out from the parents if the child’s behaviour is causing concern at home or at school. It is important to note that there are other factors or events, such as a divorce or a death in the family, which may mimic these ADHD symptoms. For this reason the child must have the symptoms for 6 months or more.
Qualities required by a Children’s Church leader
- Good listening skills – It is important for any child to feel as though they have been heard, but this is especially true for these children. They are very talkative by nature so most people will not want to listen to them rambling on.
- Being unshockable – because they will do things that aren’t socially acceptable. They need to know that they are still loved and accepted.
- Encouraging – As we saw earlier, ADHD children will have a very low self esteem. They will need your encouragement to build up their confidence.
- Non- judgmental – Everyone else in their lives will be constantly judging them on their behaviour. Be that safe person that they know they can turn to.
- Congruence – All children need consistency in their lives. Unfortunately, most don’t get it. You need to be their form of consistency.
- Patience- Because they will need a lot of individual attention to get something done and for them to listen and obey.
How to show support
As a Children Church teacher, you will need to work together with the parents of the child.
1) Acceptance
Many people have a problem accepting that ADHD is a genuine physical condition. They refuse to see that it is not a behaviourally problem, but a medical condition. The sooner they accept it and adapt their life accordingly the better it will be for everyone. So you may need to encourage the child’s parents in this regard.
2) Belonging
Make sure that your child is in a loving and accepting environment. Encourage the parents to provide a place where they belong among their family and friends. It is also your job as a Children’s Church leader to teach them to find their ultimate belonging in Christ.
3) “Supporter – parent”
It is important in any child’s life to know that there is someone there that they can talk to when they feel they are unable to talk to their parents. Be that person or encourage parents to find someone for the child to talk to.
4) Discipline
Every child needs to know their boundaries in order to feel safe. It is very important that rules are made beforehand and not in the heat of the moment. As a Children’s Church teacher you should have a list of the rules up in your classroom for the child and parent to see. The rules need to be simple, fair and few in number. When a child is acting up calmly, remind them of the rules and repeat them like a stuck record until they listen and obey.
Do not lose your temper or discipline out of anger. You are to be a role model for them. You should, therefore, not be acting (out of anger) before you think, like they do. Try to change your “You are always…” statements to “I get upset when…” statements.
For more on discipline read my blog: “Sit down! Keep quiet! And do what I say”
5) Routine, structure, consistency
These work best for everyone, but especially with ADHD children. When life is predicable we know where we stand. When an unexpected event or activity occurs it will cause ADHD children to act out. If these events or activities are unavoidable, (like singing in the main church on Sunday) anticipate the result. It will help you cope better when dealing with the situation.
6) Get their attention
As we discovered earlier, children with ADHD suffer from inattentiveness. So it is important when you are talking to them to make sure that they are listening. Address them by their name. Ensure that they are looking at you, if necessary gently direct their face towards yours or touch them to get their attention. Speak clearly and slowly to them using simple words and step-by-step instructions.
7) Ignore the unimportant
These children will be different from the other children in your class. So they will have to be treated differently. For example, ignore the fact that they are unable to sit completely still during your lesson.
8) Rewards
Behaviour that is rewarded gets repeated, whether good or bad. Encourage good behaviour by rewarding them.
9) Core needs
Lastly, but most importantly we need to teach the child where they can find their core needs met. They need to know that they will only find meaning from their creator. As we said earlier, these children are prone to having a low self-esteem. It is important that they find their significance and self-worth in Christ. They may feel like they do not belong anywhere due to the fact that they do not have many friends. They need to be taught that they can find their belonging and security in Christ and with God’s people. If we do not teach them these things they will try and fill their core needs by some other means.
Siblings with ADHD
Siblings can be hugely affected by their brother or sister who has ADHD. They will notice that there are different rules for different people. They will constantly feel like their space is being invaded. Their teachers and friends at school may make comments about what their sibling has done. Another problem is the fact that the parents’ time will not be evenly distributed because their sibling will need more individual attention. It is essential that all of these issues are addressed and dealt with.
Thanks for reading my post. I hope you found it helpful. Please send me any feedback, comments or questions that you may have. I would also like to hear if there are any topics that you would like me to deal with in the future. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Bye for now.
References:
1) GREEN, C. & CHEE, K. 2004. The pocket guide to understanding ADHD: Practical tips for parents. London: Vermilion.
2) TAYLOR, E. 1994. The hyperactive child: A parents’ guide. London: Optima.
3) En.wikipedia.org/Attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder
