ADD Scouts - say please

>
>From: Deb Williams, CPA
>Tony this isn't a flame. Being a parent of two ADD kids has taught me ALOT
>Mainly I learned that usually its really easy to turn the kids around when
>say the words right.
>
[cut]

>How long does it take to learn not to say please? Depends on what type of
>person you are. To a kid with ADD, please is a request he can ignore at hi
>option. So you say "Thank you. And GREAT JOB" instead.
>

I've got four ADD kids in my troop. Personally I try <always> say please - I
believe in " A Scout is courteous " . But after twenty two years as a
Scouter the kids know that I mean what I say. Not only that, I know myself
that if I am <ordered> to do something I tend to dig in. If I am <asked>
I usually comply.

One campout we had a problem with the cleanup. The P/L and AP/L (both
ADDers) were rowing over who should be doing it. So I rolled up my sleeves
and got them to do it with me. As we worked I just said that part of
leadership was leading by example - that the only way they would get respect
was by working with their Scouts not against them. I said that I could have
used my authority, but wasn't this a beter way ? How did they feel about
being shouted at ? I know I was shouted at as a kid, and hated it. I said
that we have short fuses, and get mad easily, but it doesn't help.

With three ADDers in the second year patrol I work with it has taken six
months of training , persuading , goal-setting, coaching, counselling etc.
to get them to work together. Last week one of the kids was duty P/L and ran
the meeting. I said to his Dad " Is that the kid who was climbing the
walls in September ? " He is twelve and a Star Scout, soon to be Life.

But there are no magic solutions ... they have their moments , like the
occasion on the PL Training course when they got high on Mountain Dew and
donuts. So we took a stretch break, burnt off some energy and then I just
chatted with the kids whilst the SM carried on with the activity. I said
" OK guys, I think we have a learning experience here. It looks like you are
sensitive to caffeine. So maybe next time you only have one can instead of
two. That way <you> participate in the course, and <I> don't get wound up
trying to get you back on task. "

I asked for this patrol. They are great kids and I find it really rewarding
working with them.

YiS

Ian Ford
ASM , T401 (American School in London)

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