14 activities for children with ADHD (to work on attention).
Proposals to train the attentional and organizational skills of children with adhd by playing.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD is one of the most known and diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorders in the Western world, characterized by the presence of inattention that may or may not be accompanied by hyperactivity and impulsivity. It is a problem that can cause severe difficulties to the child who suffers from it, and in many cases there are problems of adjustment in the academic and social environment derived mainly from a lack of development of some executive functions.
In order to solve these difficulties, it may be of great interest to perform some kind of activity that allows training these functions. Throughout this article we are going to propose several activities for children with ADHD in order to enhance their abilities in a fun and entertaining way.
ADHD: brief description of the disorder
Before going into specific activities, it may be relevant to make a brief mention of what is known as ADHD.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD is a disorder characterized by the presence of at least six symptoms of inattention and six symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity for at least six consecutive months.
Typical symptoms of inattention include We can find problems in maintaining attention, loss of other people's conversation or lack of listening due to a busy mind, forgetfulness of daily activities, avoidance of activities that require sustained attention, inability to follow or complete tasks, forgetfulness of instructions, loss of objects or carelessness.
With regard to hyperactivity/impulsivity motor restlessness, excessive talking, inability to take turns, intrusion into other people's activitiesintrusion in other people's activities, anticipation of other people's responses before they occur, inability to sit still or sit or run in inappropriate contexts. It should be noted that there is also ADD, in which there would be inattention but not hyperactivity.
It is a neurodevelopmental disorder, i.e. a condition that appears as a consequence of difficulties in the normative development process and whose symptoms appear during this process (although this does not mean that it only exists in childhood or adolescence, as it is also present in adults). In the case of ADHD, the following can be observed in particular a slowing of the development of the prefrontal cortex, something that has an impact on the development of the prefrontal cortex.This has an impact on the development of the so-called executive functions. Among the functions that usually show deficits are attention, working memory, behavioral inhibition, the ability to self-organize or the ability to make and maintain plans.
It is also important to keep in mind that we are facing problems beyond the control of those who suffer from it, something that is necessary to emphasize since for many people it can be difficult to realize, for example in the case we are dealing with here.
Proposals of activities for children with ADHD
When generating activities for children with this problem, it must be clear that activities must be clearly explained, that allow for breaks and that, although they are aimed at the enhancement of skills, are enjoyable and experienced as something interesting for the child. for the child. It is also advisable to use activities that are visual rather than entirely verbal. Distracting stimuli should also be removed or avoided.
With this in mind, we will see below a series of activities that we can do with a child with ADHD and that can help us to train skills and abilities in which they may have difficulties.
1. The seven differences
A typical and simple but fun game that is based on detecting the differences between detecting the differences between various images. The level of difficulty may vary according to the age and ability of the subject. It trains attention to detail and working memory.
2. Alphabet soup
Another typical and well known activity used on occasion to entertain a large part of the population, word search puzzles can also be useful for children with ADHD as they selective attention, the ability to organize and behavioral inhibition can be trained..
3. In slow motion
Another way to train attention span and behavioral inhibition and management is by performing various actions in slow motion. An example could be to play an astronaut on a mission to the Moon, who must place a flag somewhere on the lunar surface (the child's house for example), in zero gravity. A whole story can be created, It can even become a group game..
4. The turtle technique
This small and simple activity can strengthen behavior management and reduce impulsivity. It involves playing with the child and teaching him to become a turtle, learning to act little by little and to take refuge in the shell when they perceive a threat, in order to calm down.
5. Memory or matching game
This well-known game allows to train memory and attentionThe subject has to find pairs of cards among a group of face-down cards, being able to pick up only two cards at a time before turning them face-down.
6. Construction games
If the child likes them, building games are an excellent way to train planning skills, behavioral control and attention to detail. From LEGOs to models, it can be a fun and useful activity that can be adapted to different themes. that can also be themed to suit the subject's taste.
7. Echo game
This activity, preferably to be done in a group, is based on one of the participants following a word and the rest echoing it, repeating the last syllables. You can also add the fact that each time the child has to reduce the repeated syllables and sounds. It promotes attention and verbal working memory..
8. The initial of my name
A simple activity that is based on us saying randomly different letters continuously, having the child to clap his hands when he hears the letter that corresponds to his initial. It can also be done by saying words at random, with the subject having to clap when a specific word is said. It favors continuous attention.
9. What have I saved?
Memory and attention are some of the skills that can promote this activity. The subject is given a series of different objects to put in a box. Once this is done, he/she will have to say what he/she has saved. It may be useful to propose to the subject beforehand to generate a fantastic story that allows to include all the objects in question, in such a way that organization is also worked on.
10. Hangman
This well-known game allows the maintenance of attention, behavioral inhibition, planning or the ability to organize oneself. ability to organize oneself..
11. Team sports
Physical activity is often pleasurable for children with hyperactivity, as it allows for a lot of movement. In addition to releasing energy, many sports can also can also promote attention to stimuli or details, such as table tennis.such as table tennis.
12. Chained words
Another simple activity to carry out and that allows to train not only the attention, but also the need to wait for their turn to speak. It is to form a chain of words, making the players take turns to say a word that must begin with the last syllable of the word said by the previous person.
13. Imitate me
This game allows players to to work on attention and memory. The first person must do a specific activity (which can come from cards previously prepared), so that the rest of the players must pay attention to what he/she does in order to be able to replicate it. An example could be replicating a dance choreography.
14. An invented language
The idea of this activity is to generate a series of symbols without meaning per se, as if it were a new language, that correspond to the letters of the alphabet. We will have to leave several relatively short messages around the house that the child will have to translate in order to find the next clue, for example, to find a small treasure (e.g. some sweets), having for this purpose a small cheat sheet.
Bibliographical references:
- Vallés, A. (1999). How to change children's behavior. Guide for parents. Alicante: Editorial Marfil.
(Updated at Apr 12 / 2024)