Is anyone willing to share their therapeutic interventions for hyperactivity and inattention? I've heard a lot of behavior charts are good, but there is bound to better ideas.
I would also like to know if anyone has techniques for working with oppositional / aggressive children, especially techniques for they are in a moment of rage. Needless to say, I do not have much experience with these types of behaviors and have a very challenging child that I just started working with.
One last question: Behavior Management Programs that aren't points-based. Got ideas? Please share.
Much thanks.
-SWS
There's a few good ADHD websites around e.g. http://www.adhdandyou.co.uk/
ReplyDeleteStandard parenting programmes such as the Webster-Stratton method can be of some help, though they aren't specifically tailored for inattentive/impulsive children.
Token systems are sometimes recommended as a behavioural approach with ADHD as they provide an immediate stimulus, though I guesss you could consider token systems to be points-based.
There's not a lot of behavioural techniques in terms of working with them when they're in a moment of rage - the objective generally is to stop them getting that far. If possible you might want to look at moving them to a quiet, low-stimulus environment where they can safely calm down and de-escalate, but that may not always be practicable.
I tend not to recommend anger management programmes for children. They usually have very poor outcomes at the best of times. But the outcomes are particularly poor for young children, or if they have ADHD. Such children tend to need the support and role-modelling of others (e.g. parents, teachers) to manage their behaviour, rather than going off somewhere individually to learn these skills.
Family therapy can sometimes be helpful in these cases, though it's expensive and not always available.
If behavioural methods are insufficient, then there are medication options for very agitated children, usually low doses of risperidone. But obviously those should be only in the more extreme cases, and then only when behavioural work has not been enough to guarantee the safety of the child or others.