Campers with ADHD

Tips for Managing the Camper with ADHD by John Durall

Understand what ADHD is. Understand that ADHD has different behavioral manifestations in each person. Understand that even in the same person there are behavioral and performance fluctuations from day to day as well as from hour to hour.
Guide these campers rather than excusing them. Bear in mind that the ADHD child is on average about 30 percent behind in age appropriate self-control. On average, a 7-year-old camper would equal a 5-year-old camper; 10 = 7 1/2; 13 = 9 1/2; and 16 = 12!
Offer external performance incentives! When incentives, or reinforcers, cease, the ADHD child's performance drops. Be creative and vary the reinforcers, and present them in a continual rather than a sporadic manner. To the camper, you are their source of performance regulation.
Control the issue of time. Give instructions for immediate expectations rather than for some needed performance that is hours or days in the future. This brings the future into the moment.
Keep them active and don't have a lot of unplanned time.
Use stories, imagery, and emotions to provide external arousal, motivation, and persistence in tasks.
Vary your voice tone. When appropriate, use eye contact when speaking.
Vary the use of all techniques for guiding behavior.
Be supportive. Use reflective listening. Help them to connect their past to their present with incentives for their future.
Rules are contingency-specifying stimuli; there is a relationship between event, response, and consequence. To follow rules is to guide behavior with a strategy. Remember that this ability is delayed in their development. With their help, establish two to four rules. Keep them simple and specific. Write them down and post them. Create incentives to reinforce compliance.
Use brief time-outs (but only when needed). This works wonders for children under the age of twelve, and many ADHD kids are already accustomed to time-outs.

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