ADD
Michael J Pagelkopf (mjp2@SPARC.ISL.NET)
Thu, 27 Jul 1995 08:04:22 -0500
I would appreciate hearing from unit leaders that have scouts in their unit
with ADD. In particular, I would like to know how you trained your junior
leaders in the topic of ADD (to be sensative to the needs of the boy) and
what (if any) modifications you have had to make in program in order to
accomodate the needs of an ADD child.
I can find no information from national on the subject. We are seeing more
and more boys in the cub scout program with ADD. The structure of Cub
Scouting does provide for much "active" time which, I am told, is what the
ADD child needs. The Boy Scout program provides "inactive" time when the
scout is on his own to accomplish tasks either for himself, his patrol or
his troop. With these young men crossing over into the Boy Scout program I
am concerned that the Boy Scout leader my find him or her-self not well
equipped to work with the scout.
Some key questions the come to mind are:
1. How much structured time is needed for an ADD child.
2. Things to be aware of in a boy run program that could present conflicts
to an ADD child.
3. Do the parents of an ADD child need to be more involed in the Boy Scout
program then in Cub Scouting.
I have found to many scouters defer to blaming the "medication" when things
go wrong. What has worked for you? I have very limited knowledge about ADD
but what I do know seems to indicate that there are "dos and don'ts" that a
unit leader needs to aware of in working with an ADD child.
Information is begining gathered to share at our Roundtable program in
February 1996 on the subject of ADD in Boy Scouting. We will have
presenters well versed in ADD as well as parents with boys in Cub Scouting.
I need some resourse material on the Boy Scout side.
Thanking you for your help,
Michael Pagelkopf
Boy Scout Roundtable Commissioner
Hiawatha District - Gamehaven Council SE Minnesota
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
