| Childhood should be playful. Play is said to be the | | | | child with ADHD has been overly aggressive with |
| work of children. But, sometimes, the ability to | | | | other children, acting out the |
| play becomes strained when children have | | | | consequences with animal puppets can offer a |
| conditions such as Attention Deficit Disorder, with | | | | more painless and effective lesson.Record it - |
| or without hyperactivity (ADD/ADHD).Part of | | | | Getting the performances down on tape gives |
| living with a child with ADHD is to understand the | | | | everyone more |
| special needs of these | | | | opportunities to laugh and enjoy it all over again. |
| children in order to maintain a happy and healthy | | | | There's a difference between |
| balance. This includes the | | | | taping the children playing at creating the |
| necessity of selecting the right playthings so | | | | performance and "making a movie" of the |
| playtime activities do not become more | | | | show, and both are wonderful to watch again |
| stressful by conflicting with what these children | | | | and again. Taping the children at play |
| can comfortably manage and enjoy. | | | | shows their performance, as well as the |
| One way we've heard ADHD described is that | | | | behind-the-scenes preparation. Making a |
| it's a performance disorder and not a | | | | movie is just a matter of trying to capture what |
| deficiency of knowledge or skill. It is primarily | | | | the audience would see. All you have |
| manifested as a set of symptoms that | | | | to do is prepare the children for the scene and |
| interfere with the ability to focus on a task and | | | | start and stop the camera at the right |
| get it completed.Child psychologists and | | | | times - and move on. You can even start with a |
| psychiatrists value the importance of play in | | | | title card the children can make for |
| therapy for | | | | the show - using their own artistic skills.If the |
| children with ADHD. The right types of play allow | | | | child acts out while taping is underway, continue |
| children to express themselves in | | | | shooting, but keep your |
| ways they can't do otherwise. Play within the | | | | reprimands to a minimum. Put your energy into |
| right context and with the right | | | | trying to refocus the child's |
| supervision can also improve a child's focusing | | | | attention toward continuing the performance or |
| abilities and help him or her to learn | | | | easing into a hastier conclusion. |
| the basics of getting along more cooperatively | | | | Later, when viewing the tape, the child may be |
| with other children. Medical attention | | | | able to see problem behaviors more |
| for proper diagnosis and consideration of | | | | clearly, rather than focusing more on your |
| medication are certainly the core of | | | | anger.Dollhouses and activity sets - Playing with |
| treatment of ADHD. But in many situations, | | | | dolls and action figures is another |
| proper managing of a child's | | | | valuable opportunity for pretend play. Dollhouses, |
| environment and activities can do a lot to keep | | | | toy pirate ships, castles, |
| the symptomatic behavior under | | | | firehouses, farms and other traditional activity |
| control.A toy doesn't have to be full of moving | | | | sets have the magic to let children |
| or electronic parts to stimulate a child's | | | | get lost in their imaginations. Even the more |
| imagination. Children with ADHD often have | | | | popular activity sets based on movies |
| difficulty with multi-step instructions | | | | and TV shows allow the same opportunities. And |
| and have an inability to stay focused on the task | | | | don't forget what imaginations can |
| at hand. They frequently become | | | | do with boxes, blocks and anything that can |
| frustrated with themselves in these situations. | | | | become the setting for a creative play |
| Toys can be very simple and still do a | | | | session.Blocks - Toys for children with ADHD |
| better job of keeping a child focused and | | | | should be simple and encourage the use of |
| entertained as well as giving them an | | | | their imaginations, and one of the most basic of |
| outlet to express their feelings. Two such toy | | | | toys is building blocks. Block play |
| categories are pretend play and art | | | | can be great for many ages. From simple |
| supplies.The flexibility of these traditional play | | | | stack-up and knock-over fun to |
| activities can be as simple or involved as the | | | | imaginative building. Blocks teach problem-solving |
| opportunity permits. So, because these types of | | | | skills, because a child discovers |
| play are events of totally variable | | | | how stacking and matching can produce different |
| lengths, a child can complete the activity and feel | | | | results. They can also become |
| a sense of accomplishment and | | | | components of pretend play, because a child can |
| build confidence.Another advantage of pretend | | | | fantasize what the structures are. |
| play and artistic activities for children with ADHD is | | | | There are also big foam blocks that are almost |
| | | | "life size" and let children create |
| that these categories of play allow parents and | | | | their own fantasy playhouses. These lightweight |
| caregivers to provide positive | | | | blocks are so versatile, they can be |
| feedback and reinforcement that is invaluable in | | | | climbed on or tunneled under. Magnetic block and |
| keeping the child focused...and | | | | construction sets have pieces |
| invaluable for the child's self esteem.Pretend Play | | | | that connect in more ways than can conventional |
| - Children of almost every age enjoy pretend play | | | | plastic snap-together blocks and |
| and benefit from the | | | | allow even more imaginative opportunities. We |
| exploration of feelings that it affords. Dolls and | | | | also carry a selection of traditional |
| action figures, puppets, costumes | | | | and colorful wooden blocks that are full of |
| and even blocks are all toy categories that allow | | | | fantasy building opportunities.Blocks, like many |
| a child to fantasize and act out | | | | traditional toys, have other educational |
| situations. Under the right supervision, children | | | | advantages for a child with |
| with ADHD can learn the value of | | | | ADHD. The number of positive outcomes is |
| considering the consequences of their actions. As | | | | limitless, so children can continue |
| they decide what happens next in | | | | playing until they've reached a level of personal |
| their fantasy, they can get a better | | | | satisfaction. Whether the child is |
| understanding of how others react to certain | | | | building with traditional blocks or shoeboxes, try |
| actions. In situations where you can encourage | | | | to show interest in every |
| them to finish their story line, you | | | | structure. Encourage the child to name creations, |
| also can help them get used to following through | | | | even if it's simply Wobbly Land or |
| on a task.Drama - Dramatic activities such as | | | | Crazy Tower. Showing interest without criticism |
| skits, recitations, puppet shows and simple | | | | offers your child valuable, long- |
| storytelling can let a child concentrate on being a | | | | lasting affirmation.Art Activities - Any medium |
| different character for a short | | | | such as crayons, markers, chalk, paint and clay |
| time. Put a costume on them and watch how | | | | can give |
| quickly they start getting into | | | | a child a wealth of expressive opportunities. |
| character. However, it may take direction from | | | | Sometimes you may want to suggest a |
| you to keep them focused and | | | | subject idea to get them started. Art supplies |
| enjoying the event.Costumes need not be | | | | are some of the least expensive |
| elaborate to let a child be another character. It | | | | educational toys you can provide. Gwynn used to |
| need only be | | | | bring home old stationery and |
| representational. A single feather in a headband, a | | | | unused printed samples to give her children a |
| necktie, a hat, sunglasses, | | | | virtually unlimited supply of art |
| scrubs or even just a sign or patch fastened to | | | | paper. She'd also purchase low-end copy paper, |
| clothing is enough to let a child jump | | | | offering the kids free rein on a |
| into another role. Let the child use his or her | | | | giant stack of blank paper.And here's something |
| imagination to help find costume | | | | you can try on a big scale. Sid used to get |
| pieces as part of the dramatic play process. And | | | | leftover paper |
| don't restrict them to the costume | | | | billboards from the local outdoor company and |
| box. Colanders make great space helmets.When | | | | tack them on his backyard fence, |
| Sid's children were growing up, they had a | | | | backside out, to give the children blank giant-size |
| "costume closet" with an | | | | panels for murals. The change in |
| assortment of coats, brightly colored shirts, hats | | | | scale of their artist's canvas gets them thinking |
| and accessories such as scarves, | | | | of possibilities in a different |
| belts, wigs and, of course, masks. If an article of | | | | perspective and keeps them intrigued for hours. |
| clothing became outdated, before | | | | Another way to give structure to art |
| disposing of it, they'd consider its costume | | | | activities is with their own easel. We carry a |
| potential. Putting together a costume for | | | | selection of folding, double-sided and |
| Halloween was always a big event. On top of | | | | adjustable easels that provide a convenient |
| that, living in New Orleans offered | | | | supply of paper and drawing surfaces in |
| them Mardi Gras as a second costuming event | | | | a self-contained, accessible environment.One rule |
| each year.Playhouses and play tents - Giving a | | | | of thumb to follow to help inspire your kids to |
| child a space of his or her own is a great way to | | | | express themselves is to |
| encourage imaginative pretend play. Whether it's | | | | encourage all efforts. Today's crooked stick |
| stretching a sheet over dining | | | | figure could lead to tomorrow's |
| room chairs to make a house or a purchased | | | | Picasso. Most important, artistic expression is |
| indoor or outdoor playhouse or play | | | | highly therapeutic to your child, even |
| tent with a theme, a child is free to role-play and | | | | if it doesn't happen to please your eye.Books - |
| make up scenarios that could | | | | There are many books that can hold a child's |
| happen in the space.At The Creativity Institute, | | | | attention. The public library is |
| we carry several types of playhouses, play tents | | | | a great start and your librarian can help you. |
| and | | | | Garage sales and community book |
| tunnels in themes that include a teepee, theater | | | | fairs are a great way to build a library of your |
| tent, castle and military | | | | own. Collections of rhymes, poems or |
| camouflage. We also carry puppet theaters that | | | | short stories are a good way to start with a |
| can double as play stores and other | | | | child who is easily distracted.The Oppenheim Toy |
| types of play spaces. Our big foam blocks are | | | | Portfolio listed the top toys for children with |
| large enough to construct make- | | | | attention-deficit/ |
| believe buildings and tunnels a child can climb over | | | | hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and included, |
| and under. We also have play | | | | among other things, a magnetic |
| panels that can be moved around to create an | | | | construction set, a tree-house-theme dollhouse |
| ever-changing mix of play | | | | play set, a decorate-it-yourself |
| environments. This type of pretend play is also | | | | birdfeeder, board games and a simple, basic |
| conducive to playing with others, | | | | rubber ball. Oppenheim also suggested |
| offering an opportunity for a child to develop | | | | the toy general categories of dramatic play and |
| those all-important socialization | | | | artistic activities.*The National Institute of Mental |
| skills.Puppet shows - Puppets allow a child to act | | | | Health recommends that if ADHD is suspected, |
| out many different roles and have fun | | | | the |
| with character voices. There are many sources | | | | diagnosis should be made by a professional with |
| for skits that can be adapted to the | | | | training in ADHD. This includes |
| puppet stage and even ready-to-perform scripts | | | | child psychiatrists, psychologists, developmental |
| in your library and on the Web. At | | | | behavioral pediatricians, |
| The Creativity Institute, we have a section | | | | behavioral neurologists and clinical social workers. |
| devoted to puppetry with puppets and | | | | After ruling out other possible |
| puppet theaters. You'll find links to script | | | | reasons for the child's behavior, the specialist |
| resources on the Internet, puppeteer tips | | | | checks the child's school and medical |
| and even a free sample scripts we adapted for | | | | records and talks to teachers and parents who |
| the puppet stage. To make it easier | | | | have filled out a behavior rating scale |
| to get started, we've bundled together puppets | | | | for the child. A diagnosis is made only after all |
| and puppet theater packages and | | | | this information has been |
| even grouped puppet casts with accompanying | | | | considered.After a combined six decades of |
| scripts, ready to perform. There's an | | | | developing award-winning advertising, creative |
| Aesop's Fables Puppet Starter Set with five | | | | directors Gwynn Torres and Sid Berger decided |
| puppets and four fables adapted to the | | | | to spread creativity beyond the |
| puppet stage. There's also an Old MacDonald | | | | world of marketing. They founded an online |
| Puppet Starter Set with Farmer | | | | educational toy store specializing in |
| MacDonald and seven barnyard animal puppets | | | | toys that nurture creativity in children. They |
| and an accompanying script of the | | | | handpick each toy for its potential for |
| song. Again, your direction will be invaluable in | | | | developing vital creative resources in your child. |
| providing enough structure for the | | | | The benefits of nurturing creativity |
| event that will let the children have a greater | | | | can be profound, offering children tools for |
| sense of accomplishment and stay | | | | success in all endeavors athletic, artistic |
| interested longer.And because puppets offer a | | | | or academic. Gwynn and Sid are also |
| degree of separation from real issues, they can | | | | accomplished musicians and songwriters, and |
| offer | | | | between them they have managed to produce |
| lots of opportunities for learning about | | | | five wonderfully zany and significantly |
| inappropriate behaviors. For example, if a | | | | creative children. |