Summer vacation is a period that every child should spend meaningfully and productively; However, this process needs to be planned with extra importance in children with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Experts pointed out that children's absence during the summer period carries a risk for children diagnosed with ADHD, and made suggestions to parents for summer holidays.
Summer vacation is very important for children with ADHD.
“Summer is a period that children should spend meaningfully and with quality; "But it is a process that needs to be given extra importance and planned in advance for children with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder," said Duygu Barlas, adding, "ADHD actually needs a structured environment. While children wake up in the morning and know that they will go to school, it is inevitable that they will fall into a gap during summer vacation. This situation may pose a danger for children diagnosed with ADHD. Usually because they don't know what to do; "An increase in hyperactivity, distraction and impulsivity may be observed," he said.
The holiday schedule should not be too strict
“A few days after the report card day, parents should organize a family meeting with their children; They need to talk about how they should spend this summer. "A program should be prepared by asking how children want to spend the summer and finding a common way," said Specialist. Clinical Psychologist Duygu Barlas says, "The plan created should not be very strict and every hour should not be in a certain order. It is enough for the child to know what to do during the summer. For example; It may be a summer camp, a language course of their choice, or if they want to develop fine motor skills, they may be directed to an activity related to manual skills. If gross motor skills or sports activities are desired to be improved, they can be sent to swimming, basketball or handball courses. In this way, it has properties that reduce the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It also contributes to socialization and increases self-confidence. Wherever the child will be directed, a choice must be made taking into account the child's abilities, skills and skills that need to be developed. The child unwillingly participates in an activity imposed by the family "This causes the child not to want to go, his/her attention deficit increases, and his/her being very active," he said.
This period is a great opportunity for treatment
Expert Clinic Psychologist Duygu Barlas said, "If children with ADHD or those who may have ADHD have not had the opportunity to get professional help during the school year, the summer period is a very advantageous time to start treatment and make progress." He continued his words as follows:
“Summer period is not actually a lost period, but a period that can be turned into opportunities. If ADHD is diagnosed by a professional person (a child-adolescent psychiatrist specialized in the field), various medical or psychological treatments can be started. Mindfulness-based group programs are of great benefit for these psychological treatments. This program is a group therapy program that usually lasts 8 weeks and is attended by adults as well as children. Its basic mechanism is 'Be neither in the future nor in the past, stay completely in the moment. Focus on the physical sensations and environmental factors at that moment, and when your attention goes to the past or future, bring your attention back to the present. Thanks to these programs, children with ADHD improve in maintaining their attention and controlling their movements and impulses.
Children can be directed to a job that will contribute to them
Children can be directed to a job to take responsibility. This work is done with the consent of the parents, the child; It is adjusted according to gender, age and developmental characteristics. It should be a job that increases the child's sense of responsibility, where he can have fun, where he can realize some of his own skills, where he can use his existing potential, and where there is no traumatic behavior. Positive feedback received from the environment increases the child's self-confidence. If there is no job opportunity outside, various responsibilities can be assigned within the house. For example; If there is a pet, its care or gardening can be left entirely to the child.”
Summer vacation is a process in which children can increase their self-confidence
Üsküdar University NPİSTANBUL Brain Hospital Expert Clinical Psychologist Duygu Barlas concluded her words as follows:
“These suggestions should be taken into consideration. when; The summer period can be a period in which the child's potential can be increased, treatment can be started, and self-confidence can be increased. Entertainment also has an important place in this period; However, it should not be forgotten that as much as there is fun, there should also be flexible boundaries and rules. When there are no limits and rules, children with ADHD may have serious difficulties when starting school. In this way, they will be prepared for the next school term.”
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