| Childhood should be playful. Play is said to be the | | | | direction will be invaluable in providing enough |
| work of children. But, sometimes, the ability to play | | | | structure for theevent that will let the children have a |
| becomes strained when children have conditions such | | | | greater sense of accomplishment and stayinterested |
| as Attention Deficit Disorder, with or without | | | | longer. |
| hyperactivity (ADD/ADHD). | | | | And because puppets offer a degree of separation |
| Part of living with a child with ADHD is to understand | | | | from real issues, they can offerlots of opportunities |
| the special needs of thesechildren in order to maintain | | | | for learning about inappropriate behaviors. For |
| a happy and healthy balance. This includes | | | | example, if achild with ADHD has been overly |
| thenecessity of selecting the right playthings so | | | | aggressive with other children, acting out |
| playtime activities do not become morestressful by | | | | theconsequences with animal puppets can offer a |
| conflicting with what these children can comfortably | | | | more painless and effective lesson. |
| manage and enjoy. | | | | Record it - Getting the performances down on tape |
| One way we've heard ADHD described is that it's a | | | | gives everyone moreopportunities to laugh and enjoy |
| performance disorder and not adeficiency of | | | | it all over again. There's a difference betweentaping |
| knowledge or skill. It is primarily manifested as a set | | | | the children playing at creating the performance and |
| of symptoms thatinterfere with the ability to focus | | | | "making a movie" of theshow, and both are |
| on a task and get it completed. | | | | wonderful to watch again and again. Taping the |
| Child psychologists and psychiatrists value the | | | | children at playshows their performance, as well as |
| importance of play in therapy forchildren with ADHD. | | | | the behind-the-scenes preparation. Making amovie is |
| The right types of play allow children to express | | | | just a matter of trying to capture what the audience |
| themselves inways they can't do otherwise. Play | | | | would see. All you haveto do is prepare the children |
| within the right context and with the rightsupervision | | | | for the scene and start and stop the camera at the |
| can also improve a child's focusing abilities and help | | | | righttimes - and move on. You can even start with a |
| him or her to learnthe basics of getting along more | | | | title card the children can make forthe show - using |
| cooperatively with other children. Medical attentionfor | | | | their own artistic skills. |
| proper diagnosis and consideration of medication are | | | | If the child acts out while taping is underway, |
| certainly the core oftreatment of ADHD. But in many | | | | continue shooting, but keep yourreprimands to a |
| situations, proper managing of a child'senvironment | | | | minimum. Put your energy into trying to refocus the |
| and activities can do a lot to keep the symptomatic | | | | child'sattention toward continuing the performance or |
| behavior undercontrol. | | | | easing into a hastier conclusion. |
| A toy doesn't have to be full of moving or electronic | | | | Later, when viewing the tape, the child may be able |
| parts to stimulate a child'simagination. Children with | | | | to see problem behaviors moreclearly, rather than |
| ADHD often have difficulty with multi-step | | | | focusing more on your anger. |
| instructionsand have an inability to stay focused on | | | | Dollhouses and activity sets - Playing with dolls and |
| the task at hand. They frequently becomefrustrated | | | | action figures is anothervaluable opportunity for |
| with themselves in these situations. Toys can be | | | | pretend play. Dollhouses, toy pirate ships, |
| very simple and still do abetter job of keeping a child | | | | castles,firehouses, farms and other traditional activity |
| focused and entertained as well as giving them | | | | sets have the magic to let childrenget lost in their |
| anoutlet to express their feelings. Two such toy | | | | imaginations. Even the more popular activity sets |
| categories are pretend play and artsupplies. | | | | based on moviesand TV shows allow the same |
| The flexibility of these traditional play activities can be | | | | opportunities. And don't forget what imaginations |
| as simple or involved as theopportunity permits. So, | | | | cando with boxes, blocks and anything that can |
| because these types of play are events of totally | | | | become the setting for a creative playsession. |
| variablelengths, a child can complete the activity and | | | | Blocks - Toys for children with ADHD should be |
| feel a sense of accomplishment andbuild confidence. | | | | simple and encourage the use oftheir imaginations, |
| Another advantage of pretend play and artistic | | | | and one of the most basic of toys is building blocks. |
| activities for children with ADHD isthat these | | | | Block playcan be great for many ages. From simple |
| categories of play allow parents and caregivers to | | | | stack-up and knock-over fun toimaginative building. |
| provide positivefeedback and reinforcement that is | | | | Blocks teach problem-solving skills, because a child |
| invaluable in keeping the child focused...andinvaluable | | | | discovershow stacking and matching can produce |
| for the child's self esteem. | | | | different results. They can also becomecomponents |
| Pretend Play - Children of almost every age enjoy | | | | of pretend play, because a child can fantasize what |
| pretend play and benefit from theexploration of | | | | the structures are. |
| feelings that it affords. Dolls and action figures, | | | | There are also big foam blocks that are almost "life |
| puppets, costumesand even blocks are all toy | | | | size" and let children createtheir own fantasy |
| categories that allow a child to fantasize and act | | | | playhouses. These lightweight blocks are so versatile, |
| outsituations. Under the right supervision, children with | | | | they can beclimbed on or tunneled under. Magnetic |
| ADHD can learn the value ofconsidering the | | | | block and construction sets have piecesthat connect |
| consequences of their actions. As they decide what | | | | in more ways than can conventional plastic |
| happens next intheir fantasy, they can get a better | | | | snap-together blocks andallow even more imaginative |
| understanding of how others react to certainactions. | | | | opportunities. We also carry a selection of |
| In situations where you can encourage them to finish | | | | traditionaland colorful wooden blocks that are full of |
| their story line, youalso can help them get used to | | | | fantasy building opportunities. |
| following through on a task. | | | | Blocks, like many traditional toys, have other |
| Drama - Dramatic activities such as skits, recitations, | | | | educational advantages for a child with |
| puppet shows and simplestorytelling can let a child | | | | ADHD. The number of positive outcomes is limitless, |
| concentrate on being a different character for a | | | | so children can continueplaying until they've reached a |
| shorttime. Put a costume on them and watch how | | | | level of personal satisfaction. Whether the child |
| quickly they start getting intocharacter. However, it | | | | isbuilding with traditional blocks or shoeboxes, try to |
| may take direction from you to keep them focused | | | | show interest in everystructure. Encourage the child |
| andenjoying the event. | | | | to name creations, even if it's simply Wobbly Land or |
| Costumes need not be elaborate to let a child be | | | | Crazy Tower. Showing interest without criticism |
| another character. It need only berepresentational. A | | | | offers your child valuable, long-lasting affirmation. |
| single feather in a headband, a necktie, a hat, | | | | Art Activities - Any medium such as crayons, |
| sunglasses,scrubs or even just a sign or patch | | | | markers, chalk, paint and clay can givea child a wealth |
| fastened to clothing is enough to let a child jumpinto | | | | of expressive opportunities. Sometimes you may |
| another role. Let the child use his or her imagination | | | | want to suggest asubject idea to get them started. |
| to help find costumepieces as part of the dramatic | | | | Art supplies are some of the least |
| play process. And don't restrict them to the | | | | expensiveeducational toys you can provide. Gwynn |
| costumebox. Colanders make great space helmets. | | | | used to bring home old stationery andunused printed |
| When Sid's children were growing up, they had a | | | | samples to give her children a virtually unlimited supply |
| "costume closet" with anassortment of coats, brightly | | | | of artpaper. She'd also purchase low-end copy paper, |
| colored shirts, hats and accessories such as | | | | offering the kids free rein on agiant stack of blank |
| scarves,belts, wigs and, of course, masks. If an | | | | paper. |
| article of clothing became outdated, beforedisposing | | | | And here's something you can try on a big scale. Sid |
| of it, they'd consider its costume potential. Putting | | | | used to get leftover paperbillboards from the local |
| together a costume for | | | | outdoor company and tack them on his backyard |
| Halloween was always a big event. On top of that, | | | | fence,backside out, to give the children blank |
| living in New Orleans offeredthem Mardi Gras as a | | | | giant-size panels for murals. The change inscale of |
| second costuming event each year. | | | | their artist's canvas gets them thinking of possibilities |
| Playhouses and play tents - Giving a child a space of | | | | in a differentperspective and keeps them intrigued |
| his or her own is a great way toencourage | | | | for hours. Another way to give structure to |
| imaginative pretend play. Whether it's stretching a | | | | artactivities is with their own easel. We carry a |
| sheet over diningroom chairs to make a house or a | | | | selection of folding, double-sided andadjustable easels |
| purchased indoor or outdoor playhouse or playtent | | | | that provide a convenient supply of paper and |
| with a theme, a child is free to role-play and make up | | | | drawing surfaces ina self-contained, accessible |
| scenarios that couldhappen in the space. | | | | environment. |
| At The Creativity Institute, we carry several types | | | | One rule of thumb to follow to help inspire your kids |
| of playhouses, play tents andtunnels in themes that | | | | to express themselves is toencourage all efforts. |
| include a teepee, theater tent, castle and | | | | Today's crooked stick figure could lead to |
| militarycamouflage. We also carry puppet theaters | | | | tomorrow's |
| that can double as play stores and othertypes of | | | | Picasso. Most important, artistic expression is highly |
| play spaces. Our big foam blocks are large enough to | | | | therapeutic to your child, evenif it doesn't happen to |
| construct make-believe buildings and tunnels a child | | | | please your eye. |
| can climb over and under. We also have playpanels | | | | Books - There are many books that can hold a child's |
| that can be moved around to create an | | | | attention. The public library isa great start and your |
| ever-changing mix of playenvironments. This type of | | | | librarian can help you. Garage sales and community |
| pretend play is also conducive to playing with | | | | bookfairs are a great way to build a library of your |
| others,offering an opportunity for a child to develop | | | | own. Collections of rhymes, poems orshort stories |
| those all-important socializationskills. | | | | are a good way to start with a child who is easily |
| Puppet shows - Puppets allow a child to act out | | | | distracted. |
| many different roles and have funwith character | | | | The Oppenheim Toy Portfolio listed the top toys for |
| voices. There are many sources for skits that can be | | | | children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder |
| adapted to thepuppet stage and even | | | | (ADHD) and included, among other things, a |
| ready-to-perform scripts in your library and on the | | | | magneticconstruction set, a tree-house-theme |
| Web. At | | | | dollhouse play set, a decorate-it-yourselfbirdfeeder, |
| The Creativity Institute, we have a section devoted | | | | board games and a simple, basic rubber ball. |
| to puppetry with puppets andpuppet theaters. You'll | | | | Oppenheim also suggestedthe toy general categories |
| find links to script resources on the Internet, | | | | of dramatic play and artistic activities. |
| puppeteer tipsand even a free sample scripts we | | | | *The National Institute of Mental Health recommends |
| adapted for the puppet stage. To make it easierto | | | | that if ADHD is suspected, thediagnosis should be |
| get started, we've bundled together puppets and | | | | made by a professional with training in ADHD. This |
| puppet theater packages andeven grouped puppet | | | | includeschild psychiatrists, psychologists, |
| casts with accompanying scripts, ready to perform. | | | | developmental/behavioral pediatricians,behavioral |
| There's an | | | | neurologists and clinical social workers. After ruling out |
| Aesop's Fables Puppet Starter Set with five puppets | | | | other possiblereasons for the child's behavior, the |
| and four fables adapted to thepuppet stage. There's | | | | specialist checks the child's school and medicalrecords |
| also an Old MacDonald Puppet Starter Set with | | | | and talks to teachers and parents who have filled out |
| Farmer | | | | a behavior rating scalefor the child. A diagnosis is |
| MacDonald and seven barnyard animal puppets and | | | | made only after all this information has |
| an accompanying script of thesong. Again, your | | | | beenconsidered. |