Den5Pack457
02-03-2008, 04:26 PM
As a parent and Den Leader of a Cub Scout diagnosed with severe attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD); I'm increasingly concerned and sensitive to how the scouting movement helps the ADHD child (interaction) and awareness of the other scouts on ways to deal with their behavior.
During weekly meetings, it isn't all that bad. Even on the few weekend activities we participate in, he's been noticed but not as bad as he was yesterday, at the first all day activity we've attended since Family Fun Day last May.
I used to think ADHD was a sham before I had a child who had it. I wasn't used to a child that wouldn't listen and would openly go out of his way to defy authority and cause trouble. Time outs, 1-2-3 Magic, nor even corporal punishment would work.
It took us five years to get him the treatement he needed. In Tennessee, it was "Boys will be Boys." We moved to Nebraska, and addressed his behavior to his Pediatrician, who in turn, refered him for testing and evaluation. That whole process took us a year. And, it's still on-going.
A class/methodology that really helped was "Common Sense Parenting" from Boys Town. So fortunate for us, one of the authors of the series was our instructor (benefit of living down the road from Boys Town). She was really good, especially at role playing, since she was a crisis counselor, house mother at the Boys Town Home for boys, and she had a son with Aspbergers and a step-son with autism. We learned a lot!
Okay, now with my laundry being aired, I'm really interested in hearing your accounts, stories, and advice on ways to help our scouts with behavior disorders succeed in scouts. And, educating the other scouts on ways to deal with our special needs scouts.
I've read several articles and point papers on this subject. But, they cannot substitute real accounts, triumphs, and even set-backs you have experienced in your packs and troops.
Thank You.
During weekly meetings, it isn't all that bad. Even on the few weekend activities we participate in, he's been noticed but not as bad as he was yesterday, at the first all day activity we've attended since Family Fun Day last May.
I used to think ADHD was a sham before I had a child who had it. I wasn't used to a child that wouldn't listen and would openly go out of his way to defy authority and cause trouble. Time outs, 1-2-3 Magic, nor even corporal punishment would work.
It took us five years to get him the treatement he needed. In Tennessee, it was "Boys will be Boys." We moved to Nebraska, and addressed his behavior to his Pediatrician, who in turn, refered him for testing and evaluation. That whole process took us a year. And, it's still on-going.
A class/methodology that really helped was "Common Sense Parenting" from Boys Town. So fortunate for us, one of the authors of the series was our instructor (benefit of living down the road from Boys Town). She was really good, especially at role playing, since she was a crisis counselor, house mother at the Boys Town Home for boys, and she had a son with Aspbergers and a step-son with autism. We learned a lot!
Okay, now with my laundry being aired, I'm really interested in hearing your accounts, stories, and advice on ways to help our scouts with behavior disorders succeed in scouts. And, educating the other scouts on ways to deal with our special needs scouts.
I've read several articles and point papers on this subject. But, they cannot substitute real accounts, triumphs, and even set-backs you have experienced in your packs and troops.
Thank You.