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Post by ilovemyboys on Sept 4, 2005 12:57:21 GMT -5
Any suggestions as to how to help my ADHD'r with fidgeting in the classroom? He's 10, in 5th grade, and he has been being disruptive with noisy fidgeting (banging his pencil on the desk, writing on the table inappropriately, tapping his fingers, building stacks with the pens and pencils, etc.)
I've suggested to the teacher that I will try to teach him appropriate ways to fidget, namely silently.... However I was just wondering if any of you had success with other methods.
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Post by Beverly on Sept 4, 2005 17:14:00 GMT -5
A stress ball or Koosh are both good if it's OK with the teacher. Unforunately he did pick the stress ball apart and ended up with a pile of sand in the desk one day!!
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Post by ilovemyboys on Sept 5, 2005 7:30:20 GMT -5
I"m nervous about the stress ball too b/c I'm afraid he'll throw it across the room or up in the air. The teacher is trying to ignore it but then my son doesn't realize how disruptive it is (the constant fidgeting).
btw - whats a koosh?
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Post by d on Sept 6, 2005 9:38:15 GMT -5
forgot this one - one of the "oldies" to help kids deal with hyperactivity are having them be the classroom runners e.g., a note that has to be delivered to the office let your ds get more than his fair share of turns doing it or better yet, exclusive job for the year - anything that gives them permission to move around
also, if a trip to the water fountain, pencil sharpener or bathroom HELPS him be less fidgety when he's in the classroom, then the teacher can/should let him have those frequent breaks even if she/he knows water, sharp pencils and the bathroom are not the primary purposes of those trips
other things that work more for younger kids by may work depending on how the teacher runs her class are sitting at the edge of a group during rug time, standing not sitting at his desk during assignments - he should be seated at the back of or perimeter of the class so that he doesn't distract others and that should *not* be confused with a seat or treatment that can be viewed as PUNITIVE
it's basically what gets the best behavior and focus out of your ds with minimal distraction to others, not what works for or is expected of neurotypical kids. the teacher should be picking and choosing her battles, i mean priorities.
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Post by ilovemyboys on Sept 6, 2005 13:08:27 GMT -5
Thanks d. I"ll be speaking with the teacher this week and hope we can discuss some of these options. He is seated front and center now in order to help him with his concentration, however the fidgeting is very noticeable there and he is right in front of the teacher which makes it distracting. Maybe she can move him to the side of the room.
My son stopped meds last May, and these are the last few things so far that we need to deal with without meds. I may start adding omega 3's to his diet also.
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Post by LurkNoMore on Sept 6, 2005 13:19:35 GMT -5
this is a koosh ball My son is also fidgety...he's got a really good OT that has tried many things with him...Last year (when he was in 5th) an art eraser worked for him (it's gummy, feels sort of like clay). It worked until he put it in his hair one day and it got stuck! Anything can work as long as it's not distracting to the other kids...erasers in his desk etc.
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Post by Beverly on Sept 6, 2005 20:31:55 GMT -5
As I was reading the post from "ilovemyboys" and trying to figure out how to describe a koosh, you manage to download a pic in probably less time! Proving a picture is worth a thousand words. They also come in animal and other shapes.
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Post by Mayleng on Sept 6, 2005 22:07:19 GMT -5
Lurk, you are awesome. How did you do that?
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Post by ilovemyboys on Sept 7, 2005 10:49:44 GMT -5
As an FYI, I talked to the teacher and requested that she work on one issue at a time (calling out and fidgeting). I told her I thought calling out would be easier to get control over, and that she was permitted to sit him 5 or 10 mins. at recess if he didn't cooperate. (she was hesitant taking recess away due to his hyperactivity, however I told her that I thought that would be the best incentive, and if he didn't respond in a week or two we would discontinue that punishment).
So I discussed this with my son before school, told him that if he didn't stop calling out he would have a behavior chart and lose recess. So get this - he didn't call out at all yesterday.... That little scootch - I guess he has much more control than we all thought....
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Post by LurkNoMore on Sept 7, 2005 12:09:31 GMT -5
Lurk, you are awesome. How did you do that? Hi Mayleng...it's using UBB code (similar to how you make things bold or marquee). You find a picture you like (normally you should save it to a ripway or photobucket acct so you're not stealing bandwidth) and paste the URL between [ img] [/ img] (without any spaces) you can click on the on the toolbar above and it will put in the tags for you (then you just have to paste or type the url between them)! Let me know if you want/need further instructions or clarification
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Post by Beverly on Sept 7, 2005 20:21:33 GMT -5
OK, did you get that? I am a visual learner so you lost me at UBB!!! Cut and paste I could've handled. I agree, you are awesome.
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Post by Mayleng on Sept 7, 2005 20:27:19 GMT -5
Lurk, thanks. I will give it a try. Hey, I did it. This is way cool.
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Post by LurkNoMore on Sept 8, 2005 13:16:33 GMT -5
Lurk, thanks. I will give it a try. Hey, I did it. This is way cool.
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Post by Mayleng on Sept 8, 2005 14:06:34 GMT -5
Lurk, I was so excited I was trying to find a picture so I could paste it here. But couldn't find any I liked, LOL! You are going to get me addicted to all the "fun" stuff.
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Post by LurkNoMore on Sept 8, 2005 16:55:18 GMT -5
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