Self-recording

Self-recording

A child with ADD/ADHD is often unaware of what behaviors they exhibit that are acceptable or unacceptable. Usually, these children develop self-images that are negative with all their behaviors lumped into one package, such as "I'm hyperactive", or "I can't pay attention." In reality, even children with ADD/ADHD have periods of time where they CAN sit still, or they CAN pay attention. Help them identify those times through the technique of self-recording.

The first step of self-recording is for the child to identify times when their behavior is appropriate. For example, a teacher or parent might point out that the child can sit very still and pay attention during reading if the story is about dinosaurs. Or, the child's hypersensitivity actually makes him or her the best ball player during gym or recess because s/he is always alert.

It is important for the child to recognize and focus on the positive behavior instead of focusing on what s/he does wrong.

To do this, help the child set up a journal or chart where s/he can record their own behavior. In the beginning, help the child identify those times when his/her behavior was appropriate and remind them to write it down. Soon, the child will be able to identify those behaviors on his/her own.

Some of the questions the child might want to ask are:
Did I raise my hand before speaking during group?
Was I able to sit in my chair during math? If not for the entire period, did I sit still part of the time?
Was it more difficult or less difficult for me to concentrate today? Why? What was different?
What parts of the day do I concentrate better than others?

Once positive behaviors have been identified, use these times as a starting place to build upon. For example, if a child recognizes s/he can sit still 5 minutes during math before realizing they are interrupting without raising their hand or disrupting others, challenge the child to extend that time to 6 minutes. Then lavishly praise the child for his/her success. Continue this process in other parts of the day, recording successes in the journal or on the chart.

There is an old sayings that Rome was not built in a day. Behavior is not corrected in a day either. Like Rome being built one brick at a time, so must behavior be changed -- one behavior at a time.