| Commonly Asked Questions and Answers for Kids
Commonly Asked Questions and Answers for Kids
- Q. I have ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Should I tell
my friends?
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A. I don't think you should make a big announcement to everyone you know,
but if one or two close friends ask you questions about taking medication,
or tease you about being too talkative or not paying attention, you can
explain to them that you have ADHD. You could also tell them that you're
not the only one. There are over 2,000,000 kids in the United States with
ADHD.
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Q. I have big ears and get teased a lot. What should I do?
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A. Sometimes parts of our body grow faster than the rest of us and we have
to wait for everything to catch up. Everybody gets teased sometimes.
Whether a person is tall, short, thin, fat, smart, or not smart, somebody
somewhere can find a reason to tease him. When someone is teasing you in an
unkind way, the first thing you could try is just ignoring the teasing.
There are lots of ways to do that: don't look at the person; don't talk to
the person; think about other things; walk away; or you can give them an
"emotional shrug." An "emotional shrug" is a way of saying "I don't care"
or "It doesn't matter to me" on the inside. Don't argue or disagree.
Another way to handle being teased is to stand up to the person in a quiet
way. Stand up straight and face the person who is teasing you. Look him in
the eye. Don't cry, turn around, or run away. Just hold your head high and
give an "emotional shrug." You could also agree with what the teaser is
saying, but only if the statement is true. "Yeah, I know I have big ears,
but I need them to handle my brain which is pretty big also." Do you get
the idea?
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Q. Whenever I have to take a test, I get really nervous. Sometimes I feel
like I have to throw up. Will I ever get over this?
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A. I'm sure that as you take more tests and are more successful, you won't
get as nervous. The best way to keep from being nervous is to be well
prepared for a test. Start studying early, get plenty of rest the night
before, and think of all of the times you have done well, even when you've
been nervous. That will build your confidence and then you won't have to
worry. I used to get "blotchy" when I took tests. I would break out in huge
red blotches all over my neck and face. Once a teacher sent me to the
nurse's office because she thought I had the measles. Now, I don't get
blotchy any more at all. That's because I'm confident.
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Q. When the teacher wants us to write about our summer vacations, I can't
think of anything because we never take a summer vacation. What should I
write about?
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A. You have several choices. Write about a vacation you took during another
time of the year. Write about the "dream vacation" that you plan to take in
the future. Or, write about something you did during your vacation that was
extra special to you. When our kids were growing up we didn't take many
vacation trips, but we always took mini-vacations (trips to the zoo or
museums and dinners out in restaurants). Maybe you could write about how to
take a vacation without actually leaving town.
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Q. I never get picked to play on any teams at recess. What can I do?
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A. Stop waiting around for someone else to pick you and start your own
team. Pick the people who never get picked by anyone else and make some new
friends. Sometimes we miss out on opportunities to make good friends
because we're so busy waiting for the "popular" people to find us.
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Q. How can I get off to a good start this year in school?
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A. Here's some tips:
- Don't be tardy or miss class. The simple act of always being on time
and in your seat when the bell rings will go a long way toward impressing
any teacher with your eagerness to learn.
- Say something nice to your teacher once in awhile. Extending common
courtesies to teachers will probably bowl them over. Not many kids say
hello to a teacher, thank the teacher for anything, or even bring a small
present once in awhile. Telling a teacher that you really liked a lesson
or think she did a good job will probably cause cardiac arrest.
- Sit in the front row. Some teachers assign seats and often place
students with attention problems near the front of the classroom. If you
choose a front row seat, you'll get more positive attention from the
teacher, will be less distracted by what is going on, and will always be
able to see what is written on the chalkboard.
- Make friends with someone
in the class who gets good grades. Knowing someone in the class who always
understands what is going on will prove very helpful if you get in a
homework bind. This individual will not only know exactly what the
assignment is, but will have done it and can explain it to you if you call
them the night before.
- Do extra-credit work if it is assigned and do some even if it isn't.
Demonstrating a willingness to go above and beyond may give you the benefit
of the doubt if you do poorly on a test or miss a homework assignment.
- Remember that the teacher is there to help you. Ask for help if you don't
understand. Go in before class to get help with a math problem. Stay after
class to double-check that you've understood the homework assignment
correctly. Make an appointment to see the teacher if he can't help you
right away.
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