Student Challenges
ATTENTION PROBLEMS
At the root of most attention problems is an overactivated alarm system. There are students who experience more alarm than their system can handle. Some of them become anxious, fearful, worried, distracted and sometimes show extreme shyness. However, for others the brain protects against feeling 'too much' alarm by numbing out the feelings of alarm. But the chemistry of alarm remains and this manifests itself through agitation, inattention, distractibility, and poor memory. Their brain is distracted by the alarm and has less capacity to focus on the day-to-day tasks of the classroom. Interventions with these students needs to focus on reassuring them that adults will continue to care for them even if they cannot perform or always behave like the other students their age. Furthermore, the adults caring for and educating them need to find ways to provide the structure and support that their brain is not yet able to provide.
Anxiety, Alarm And Attention Problems
Anxiety, Alarm And Attention Problems
Presentation Handout
EDITORIAL: ADHD and anxiety
Peg Rosen
It can be hard to tell whether a child has ADHD or anxiety because there’s so much overlap in how they look in kids. Here’s what you need to know about ADHD and anxiety — and what you can do to help your child.
A Surprising Cause of Attention Problems in Kids
Claire Heffron, The Inspired Treehouse
We talk a lot about sensory processing needs and how they can impact kids’ ability to attend and function at school and at home. And there are also many children whose attention problems fall into the category of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. But there is one other surprising reason that many children are unable to attend to tasks throughout the day: weak core muscles.
To read more: https://theinspiredtreehouse.com/a-surprising-cause-of-attention-problems-in-kids/
ADHD or a Natural Need to Move?
Mona Delahooke
Rodney thrived at his preschool, where children could freely move between the outdoor playground and spacious classroom. But kindergarten was a different story. Suddenly, his teachers expected him to sit still for up to thirty minutes at a time, a nearly impossible task for a boy who seemed wired to move. A few months into the year, his teacher called a meeting to tell Rodney’s parents that she was concerned about his “excessive” movement.
To read more: https://monadelahooke.com/adhd-or-a-natural-need-to-move/