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Using Christmas Season to Teach Your Child Values & Life-Skills - Part 2


Using Christmas Season to Teach Your Child Values & Life-Skills - Part 2

Building Confidence and a positive self-image.

A.D.D. kids are often known best amongst extended family for their unruly and disruptive behavior.

Although it's easier to label and pigeon-hole a child like this it's both unfair and destructive.

All children have talents and accomplishments of which to be proud of, and the A.D.D/A.D.H.D child is no exception.

Your responsibility as a parent to make sure that he gets the opportunity to share these talents and accomplishments with grandparents,uncles, cousins and friends.

Things like showing/displaying art projects, showing everyone the Scout Merit Badge that he earned or reciting a poem that he learned are just a few of the ways to do so.

Coach your child in the art of displaying his accomplishments without coming across as a show-off.

In addition, be sure to tell positive stories about your child and encourage him to chime in as well. This helps others to see him in a more positive light as well.

Teaching Sharing, giving and altruism.
Children, especially those with special needs
(like A.D.D.)are used to being on the receiving end. They often receive special accommodations at school, special attention and extra help at home etc.

Christmas is the perfect time to reverse this and to give the child the experience of giving.

Volunteer work provides the perfect opportunity to help those that are less fortunate. Through the experience of doing this the child realizes that there are others with problems far more serious than his own.

In addition it also gives the child the confidence that he can make a difference in the lives of those around him.

Using Christmas Season to tach your child Important Values & Life-skills - Part 1

Helping your A.D.D Child enjoy the holiday season.... and learn valuable social skills at the same time.

The holiday season presents a unique set of challenges for all family members, but more so for those who suffer from A.D.D. or A.D.H.D. The absence of familiar routines throws the child off balance. Add guests, shopping, the hustle and bustle of the season, parents who are stressed out and kids may suddenly become disruptive and uncooperative.

But if approached in a careful and well-planned manner this season can be a wonderful time of bonding for parent and child, as well as a time to pass on the values and belies that you hold dear. And you can help your child to develop those all important social skills.

Teaching Empathy
Impulsive, hyperactive kids are often self-absorbed and self-focused. Use this season to help your child to shift the focus from himself to others.

One family found a fun way to get their 8 year old son,Mark, actively involved in the Christmas planning and shift his focus at the same time.Mark acted as a gift consultant to his mother. His job was to interview each family member about their hobbies etc. and then using that knowledge help his mother pick out appropriate gifts. This kept him involved, gave him a sense of pride and accomplishment -both of which are vital for building a healthy self-esteem. And he was thrilled when family members loved the gifts he helped to choose.

Teaching Teamwork and Co-operation.
A.D.D./A.D.H.D. kids tend to be very disorganized bunch and are notoriously poor planners as well.Getting your child involved in planning a party is a terrific way to build her self-confidence and improve her planning skills. Help the child make a list of the things you need to purchase and how the evening will proceed, for example snacks and drinks followed by dinner and then everyone gathers around the piano to sing Christmas Carols. Work together to make the evening a success.Let your child do as many tasks as she is capable of, and let go of the need to have everything 'perfect'. After all building your child's confidence and improving her planning skills are far more important than having everything 'just so.'