Mental Health Strategies
What are 3 strategies to use with kids with ADHD?
Allow for breaks throughout activities
Let them play with things in their hands
Advise well ahead of time about ‘transitions’ so that kids are given time to remove themselves from their activities
Use shorter and more specific directions
How does TRACKS work?
Teach typically-developing peers about disabilities and inclusion and how to interact with peers with disabilities, social challenges, behavioral issues, etc.
Use in all environments when kids are socializing.
What are 3 strategies to use with kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?
No loud voices
Let them play with things in their hands
Advise well ahead of time about ‘transitions’
Stick to a routine so they are aware of what they’re doing every day at what time
Use what they enjoy as motivation
What are the steps for Prompting through Peers?
1. Guide the camper and peers toward each other.
2. Prompt the peers on how to interact with the camper.
3. Prompt the camper to respond (if necessary).
4. Prompt the peers to reinforce the camper for responding.
5. Reinforce the campers and peers by rewarding their successes and attempts.
If a child is upset about something, the keys are:
Empathetic listening
Remember that empathy is not agreement
Deal with the bad behavior first
Ask them to rate how upset they are on a scale of 1 to 10
Name 4 requirements of rewards
Be consistent
Be as immediate as possible
Use specific praise
Be group based
Reward the peer who reached out and the peer who joined
What are 3 strategies to use with kids with Severe Anxiety?
Advise about timeline for the session or workshop and the fact that there will be lots of time for kids to complete their projects
Provide a safe space (e.g. a lobby) for kids to go if they have blow-ups
Create daily goals that are reasonable and achievable
When they get frustrated, be patient and let them take as long as they need to calm down
Sometimes it’s better if you just give them some ‘alone’ time (with you)
Point out positives instead of negatives
What are 3 examples of Reward Systems?
Sticker charts
Cut-outs
Paper chain
Bead bracelet
Tally
Praise
Prize wall
What are 5 ways to help kids with learning disabilities succeed?
Accommodate the LDs
Find out how they learn - strengths and challenges
Set appropriate expectations (remember ‘kids do well when they can’)
Scaffold where possible and appropriate
Psycho-education for all to help understand the learning profile
Use a collaborative approach - parents, child, school, helping professional.
Develop a file to document what’s been tried and what works
What does TRACKS stand for?
Try Again (Persistence)
Right Thing (Correct)
Assist (Prompting)
Congratulate (Reinforcement)
Keep Trying (Persistence)
Show (Modelling)