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Clocks & Timers
By second grade, students are introduced to the clock and are taught to tell time. Clocks are reviewed again in third grade — and after this children are expected to infer that calendars and clocks can be used to determine the sequence of events and create routines. Unfortunately, many kids, particularly those with ADHD, do not make these leaps and can become lost in school as a result.
Which are the best clocks to teach time to ADHDers? Digital clocks present time as a static present-tense thing, greatly affecting kids' ability to conceive of and gauge time. Analog clocks show that time moves — and let a child know where she stands in relation to the rest of the hour or the rest of the day. We need to reintroduce analog clocks so children can "see" time and learn to place events in context.
Practice telling time with your child at home. Ask her for a different way to say 6:45 (a quarter to seven, for example). Point out that the clock numbers 12 to 6 relate to after the hour, while 6 to 12 relate to before. Reinforce ideas like this over and over so your child can gain ownership of clock time.
More time-practice:
Set a Timer. To motivate targeted behaviors (like smoother transitions), tell your child he has five minutes to finish his work, and set an alarm to signal when time is up.
Late Again? If punctuality is a problem, include it as a goal on a daily report card or as part of a behavioral contract with your child's teacher.
Beware of Dwadling Children with ADHD often use delaying tactics—like sharpening a pencil—to put off doing tasks they find boring.
Next: Planners...
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