As a Cub Scout den leader for 8 years and the mother of an ADD son, now 22 and an Eagle Scout, I wanted to comment on your concerns about Scouts and your son. As a 10-year-old fourth-grader, he should be in the Cub Scout Webelos program, which includes boys in fourth and fifth grade and, generally, age 10 or 11. All Scout programs offer multiple accommodations for boys with disabilities, be they physical, mental, or emotional. I had boys with ADD in both of my previous Cub Scout dens and always found ways to keep them busy and involved. Have you talked with your den leader? A search for "ADHD" on the Boy Scout web site (www.scouting.org) turns up multiple training modules, tips, and aids for working with boys who have ADHD or ADD if he or she needs suggestions, and your local district and council offices should also be able to help (phone numbers are on the BSA web site). There should be no language problems holding your son back from reciting the short Cub Scout promise and law; he could simply whip out an index card and read them aloud when necessary. (All the boys could make cool "key chain" or belt loop fobs with leather and feathers and beads to keep him from feeling different.) If he is unable to read, the den leader should accept your son's best efforts at memorization. (The Cub Scout motto is, after all, "Do Your Best," not "Do It Perfectly.") In our dens we played a lot of active games and learned hand motions to help all the boys easily remember the two pledges, as well as the more lengthy Boy Scout pledges as the scouts got older. Additionally, in Cub Scouts the den should generally progress through activities as a group (there are some requirements that must be completed at home), so your son should not feel like he's being outpaced by the other boys. Not until Boy Scouts (for boys 11-18) do the young men move through ranks and merit badges individually. Our Boy Scout troop currently has a number of boys with ADD who are progressing nicely -- one earned Scouting's highest rank and became an Eagle Scout just last year. Scouting is a wonderful program that stresses character, citizenship, and leadership as well as teaching practical skills to ALL boys. I would encourage you to talk to your den leader and give it another try. If you are not satisfied with the Cub Scout program, please consider having your son join a Boy Scout troop when he turns 11. Perhaps he will become so convinced of the value and values of Scouting that, like my son, he will eventually become an outstanding assistant Scoutmaster, sharing all those positive ADD traits to make the troop a creative, engaging, adventurous, and lively group that welcomes every boy.

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I think swimming or more autonomous activities are best. My daughter 10 also, is a gymnast and this year will be on a team but I think if she would of been on one while she was learning her skills it would of been very disruptive to everyone and she would not be as confident as she is now. We did Karate when she was 6 and that also was a good fit ,but like you might know ADD's(Hunters) start out with a bang, but the maintenance after the intial spark wears off...well you might as well save your money and move on to the next sport! Which is good because now my daughter can do basic karate moves, ballet, tap, and hip hop dance, and this year she is a budding gymnast! Just evaluate things before you have to outlay a bunch of money.

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I also wanted to add my daughter ahs been in Scouts for 3 years but is quiting this year. I think scouts is valuable and can greatly increase a childs self esteem and awareness to the world. However, it does depend somewhat on your leader etc. I believe you can switch if not a good match. Daughter gets frustated with all the things to do for badges she feels like it is homework and frankly we are a really outdoor family here in the Ozarks so we felt it wasn;t needed if it was making her that uncomfortable. The piano has been good but she won't practice so it is going to take her twice as long to get but practice is just too tedious to focus on one thing! I understand because she got a double Whammy from both parents with ADD. We just focus on the silver lining to this way of life.

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