Learning to Slow down and Pay Attention : A Book for Kids about ADD

Totally revised and updated from the top-selling first edition! This workbook gives kids with ADD the lowdown on such matters as how to clean a room quickly and easily and how to make sure they do their homework on time. Packed with cartoons, games, activities and funny graphics, it's a fun-filled approach to learning how to get along better at school, with friends, and in life. For parents, the book includes information on behavior management and on support groups.

INTRODUCTION

Just for Kids!

Our names are Kathleen Nadeau and Ellen Dixon. We are psychologists who work with boys and girls. Some of the kids we work with have trouble paying attention in school or finishing their homework. Some of them are very active and have trouble sitting still in school all day. For other kids it is hard to remember to do things or to remember things they have been told. Some of these kids get in trouble because they do things before they stop and think.

If you have any of these difficulties, we hope that this book can help you understand more about yourself and about some of the things that can help you. If you are like this, probably someone else in your family is like this, too maybe your mom, your dad, or an aunt or uncle. These traits usually run in families. Your brain may work in a slightly different way that makes it harder for you to pay attention, to listen, and to remember.

There are lots of things that can help with these kinds of problems. Some things you can learn to do for yourself. Other things can be done by your parents, your teachers, your doctor, or your counselor. We'd like you to read this book with your parents so that you can talk to them about what you read. We hope you like it and that it helps you.

Let us know what you think. We'd love to hear from you after you read this book. There are lots of books for parents and teachers, but we thought that kids deserved to have their own book. So this one is just for you!

Lots of kids, and grown-ups, too, have trouble paying attention. Some kids are always running around with lots of energy. It's almost like their motor runs too fast and can't turn off.

They just blurt things out without thinking and interrupt people all the time. They have trouble paying attention, are wiggly and fidgety, and can't sit still for a long time, like this...

Other kids have trouble paying attention because they're usually thinking about something else and don't notice what goes on around them. They are quiet and daydream a lot. They sit at their desk and try to pay attention, but pretty soon they start thinking about something else, like this...

Do you think you are more fidgety and talkative, or are you a daydreamer? You could be a little of both. What does your mom or dad think? Whether you're active or quiet, you could have trouble with paying attention, being organized, remembering, and keeping track of what is happening.

We've talked to lots of kids with these kinds of problems, but no two kids are exactly alike. The next section of our book tells you some of the things that these kids have said about themselves. We would like you to read each comment with your mom or dad. Make a check mark in the box next to each comment that you think is just like you.

Like this:

After you have finished checking off the things that are like you, the next parts of the book will tell you how to improve some of these difficulties and how other people can help you.