| Do you remember the worst Christmas or
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| | has fine motor issues, think about art
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| Chanukah gift you ever got as a kid? I
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| | supplies or art kits. Most kids love
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| do. It was a giant, metal, realistic
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| | making projects or playing with clay.
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| looking stove that had a real door that
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| | Just make sure you emphasize the pleasure
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| opened and little pots and pans, a spoon
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| | in the process of making art, not in the
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| and a spatula. I must have been all of 7
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| | final project.If your child has sensory
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| years old or so, and when I pulled it out
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| | issues she may tend to shun away from
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| of the box, I nearly burst into tears. At
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| | physical contact, loud noises, and even
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| that time in my life, all I was
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| | find it painful to be in places where
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| interested in were realistic dolls, Nancy
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| | there are too many people. Certain food
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| Drew books and board games. I wanted
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| | textures can be irritating, let alone
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| nothing to do with cooking even back
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| | those tags on the back of her clothes.
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| then. I suppose one's personality doesn't
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| | Occupational therapists have long used
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| really change much with age, after
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| | beanbags to help children with these
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| all!With the holiday season upon us,
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| | sorts of problems. In particular, they
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| think back upon your own childhood and
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| | seem to be helpful in calming the
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| reflect on what presents you loved the
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| | hyperactive, irritable child because of
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| most--and which you despised. My guess is
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| | the compression it lends to them. You may
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| that some of the ones you hated were
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| | find that your child even enjoys quiet
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| those where the giver had hopes of
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| | activities, such as reading and (gasp!)
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| transforming you into something you were
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| | doing homework while resting on
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| not. The non-athletic would get the
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| | one.Younger children with sensory
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| baseball bats. The tomboys, the Barbie
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| | problems tend to enjoy all kinds of sand
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| dolls.In many cases, ADHD kids have
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| | play. Purchasing some large bins and
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| already had their fill of feeling they've
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| | filling them with sand, then hiding small
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| let others--and themselves--down. School
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| | items like marbles, miniature plastic
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| is often a struggle, as are social
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| | animals, etc., can be a great way to help
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| situations. Many have difficulty playing
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| | kids overcome their tactile
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| quietly. Others have problems regulating
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| | defensiveness. They'll have so much fun,
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| their emotions.When picking out gifts for
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| | they won't even know it's good for
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| your youngsters, consider choosing things
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| | them!Another idea for your hyperactive
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| you know they will truly like--not things
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| | child (if you're up for it) is a family
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| you *wish* they would enjoy. Emphasize
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| | pet. A child who is hyperactive may find
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| their strengths--heck, they hear about
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| | that owning a kitten will actually calm
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| their areas of weakness all through the
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| | her down by nurturing it. Show her how to
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| school year!If they love being on the
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| | handle the kitten carefully, and give her
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| computer, this is the time to spoil them
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| | as many responsibilities for its care as
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| with new software. Does your daughter
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| | possible. Most children will try hard to
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| love rock music? Give her a subscription
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| | be gentle with a small animal, and can
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| to a teen magazine. Consider buying your
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| | learn to modulate their own activity
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| athletic child a new basketball or tennis
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| | level in order to keep the kitten
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| racket.Still, you *can* purchase gifts
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| | calm.With a little bit of forethought,
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| that encourage them to improve in areas
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| | you'll be able to come up with gifts that
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| in very subtle ways. For example:For your
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| | not only match your child's interests,
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| sports nut who hates to read, consider
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| | but also help to improve his fine and
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| buying just one book--maybe one that
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| | gross motor skills, academic abilities,
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| highlights the life of his favorite
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| | social skills, and more. So, go fire up
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| sports hero. Make sure you choose one
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| | that Play Station (yes, it *can* be
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| that is at his current reading level.For
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| | helpful for eye/hand coordination!) and
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| your socially shy one, buy a packet of
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| | use playtime on it as a reward for good
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| movie tickets and promise to take her a
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| | behavior.All in all, match the right
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| few times a month with her choice of
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| | present with the personality of your
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| friend. Suggest that she pick someone
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| | child--not the child you hoped he would
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| whom she'd like to get to know better.
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| | be--and make this his best holiday
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| Add a "promise" note that you'll also
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| | ever!For some great gift ideas for
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| spoil them both with treats from the
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| | children and adults with AD/HD, visit
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| refreshment stand. Sometimes kids have
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| | Matlen, MSW., ACSW, is a psychotherapist
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| trouble "figuring out" how to play
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| | and consultant specializing in AD/HD in
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| together, so spending time at the movies
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| | adults. She is the director of and is
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| would be a great way to break the
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| | the author of "Survival Tips for Women
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| ice.Does your child hate sports because
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| | with AD/HD".A former long term board
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| of poor coordination? Sign him up for
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| | member of the Attention Deficit Disorder
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| karate or other similar self-defense
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| | Association (ADDA), Ms. Matlen is a
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| class. Many ADHD kids really excel here
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| | popular presenter at local and national
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| because they are not expected to compete
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| | conferences, with a passion for raising
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| in the same way as in, say, football or
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| | awareness of the special challenges women
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| basketball. The self-discipline is
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| | with AD/HD face, and the unique issues
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| extremely helpful, too, in increasing
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| | parents face when both they and their
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| concentration skills.For the child who
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| | children have AD/HD.
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