Keeping It All Together by Erin Kelly
Help Your Forgetful Child Stay Focused Childhood may seem like it comes with few responsibilities, but kids often have a long list of things to remember, whether it’s bringing home papers for parents to sign or finishing homework assignments. For those involved in extracurricular activities, the list can grow even longer, and for parents with an even longer to-do list, keeping track of all the tasks can become close to impossible. Levels of frustration, impatience and time-wasting have the potential to reach epidemic proportions when obligatory tasks find their way into the hands of absent-minded children. Although thousands of children have diagnosable cases of ADD or ADHD, many are simply forgetful, unfocused creatures who are more preoccupied with play than anything else. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, it’s normal for all children to have certain levels of inattentiveness, hyperactivity, impulsivity and forgetfulness – but that doesn’t make the job of parenting an unfocused child any easier, especially during the school year when responsibilities mount. To help parents battle the evil beast of juvenile inefficiency, Thrive consulted the NIMH and talked to Ruth Singletary, a local licensed clinical social worker whose thirty years of treatment experience includes working with children with attention disorders. If you’ve got a forgetful young one at home, consider these suggestions to keep them on track for a successful school year:
Be clear and consistent with your expectations. Most children – specifically those with attention problems – operate best when they have rules they can understand and follow.
Involve them in their planning process. Just because a sticky note works for you doesn’t mean it’ll work for your child. Instead of imposing your own ideas of organization on them, get their suggestions. Ask them why they forget their folder every day then ask them how they think they can better remember. Work together to see that this happens. In most areas of parenting – including behavior modification offset absent-mindedness – giving the child some level of reasonable control over their own destiny makes for much better results, according to Singletary. “Your kid is more resourceful than you think. They need to be a part of the plans. Find out how they feel, what goals they would like to set, what things they need to do to get there, then suggest that you write it all down together.”
DIOCESE OF LAKE CHARLES CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
Use reminders. “Make lists, use cell phone alerts – have some sort of actual reminder,” Singletary said. “What that reminder is depends on what works best for the individual child.” Talk to your child. There’s only one way to know what works best for your child, and that’s to actually know your child. According to Singletary, parents should have productive conversations with their children. When you have a good grasp on their personality beyond minimal chit-chat, you have a better chance of figuring out how to help them modify their behavior. Keep a schedule. According to the NIMH, maintaining the same routine daily can help organize a disorganized mind. From wake-up to bedtime, consider going through the same time blocks every day for homework, play, and other household activities. You can even take it a step further by posting a schedule on the refrigerator or on a bulletin board. Explain the whys. Parents are often so busy with the hustle of life to stop and explain things to their children, but things “stick” better when kids understand the bigger picture or goal, Singletary said. Tell them why it’s important for them to remember their school folder or homework assignments so they can fully appreciate the task of following through.
Catholic schools do make a difference every day in the lives of our students! The partnership that occurs between parents, teachers and students ensures that Catholic Education is indeed a “gift of life”.
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHEDRAL CATHOLIC SCHOOL
1536 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601 • (337) 433-3497 • www.iccschool.org
OUR LADY IMMACULATE CATHOLIC SCHOOL
600 Roberts Ave., Jennings, LA 70546 • (337) 824-1743 www.edline.net/pages/Our_Lady_Immaculate_School
OUR LADY’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL
1111 Cypress Street, Sulphur, LA 70663 • (337) 527-7828 • www.olcs.org
OUR LADY QUEEN OF HEAVEN CATHOLIC SCHOOL
3908 Creole Street, Lake Charles, LA 70605 • (337) 477-7333 • www.olqhs.org
SACRED HEART/ST. KATHARINE DREXEL CATHOLIC SCHOOL 1100 Mill Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601 • (337) 436-3588 www.edline.net/pages/Sacred_Heart_SKD
SAINT MARGARET OF SCOTLAND CATHOLIC SCHOOL
2510 Enterprise Boulevard, Lake Charles, LA 70601 • (337) 436-7959 • www.stmcs.com
SAINT THEODORE’S HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC SCHOOL
785 Sam Houston Jones Parkway, Lake Charles, LA 70611 • (337) 855-9465 • www.sthfcs.com
SAINT LOUIS CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
1620 Bank Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601 • (337) 436-7275 • www.slchs.org The Most Reverend Glen John Provost, Bishop of Lake Charles Mrs. Kimberlee Gazzolo, Superintendent of Catholic Schools STATEMENT OF NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY
The Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Lake Charles do not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, national or ethnic origin.
Office of Catholic Schools • 337-433-9640
12 www.thriveswla.com
Thrive Magazine for Better Living
August 2011