Tips for Ministering to Children With ADHD
Need tips for ministering to children with ADHD at your church? Read on to learn what experts on ADHD have to say.
Research and data shows that 11.7 percent of U.S. children have been diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or about one child in 9. In almost every children’s ministry, there’s at least one child with ADHD. Children’s ministers often ask what they can do to more effectively reach these kids. So we asked three experts to help us understand ADHD.
A lot of these kids feel like nobody loves them or that they’re always bad.
We want to make sure that’s not happening in children’s ministry. So childrensministry.com interviewed some ADHD experts to explore how to minister to these children effectively.
- Paul White is a counseling psychologist and has worked with ADHD and learning disabled kids for about 15 years. He does evaluations for private schools and has a son with ADHD.
- Judy Basye has a master’s degree in educational administration with a special emphasis in special education. She’s been trained by Norfolk Institute of Learning Disabilities, taught school for nine years, worked in a learning assistance program, and served as a children’s pastor in San Mateo, California.
- Donna Smith* is the mother of a child with ADHD. (*Name has been changed.)
Q: What teaching techniques can Sunday school teachers use with kids who have ADHD?
A: Donna
I know lots of praise really helps [my kid] a lot. Another kid would see right through that and maybe think I was even making some of it up. It seems like he’s always in trouble and has a low self-esteem. So the more praise [my child] gets really seems to help his behavior. I think teachers in the Sunday school classroom could have knowledge beforehand of who they’re going to have in class and if any child has ADHD. They could then learn about what to do. Someone could tell them what things help ADHD kids, such as praise or awards. That would make the classroom go a little easier than constantly having to reprimand the child.
A: Paul
Another helpful strategy for some ADHD impulsive kids who often like to get attention is to invite them to be a helper. The teacher, at least for part of the time, can give kids attention by having them help hand out materials or gather things up. It doesn’t work with all ADHD kids, but it can clearly help limit some disruptive behavior for a number of those kids.
A: Judy
In the classroom with the three boys, we have a yellow card/red card system. The teacher hands them a yellow card for a warning signal. Because they’re fourth graders, they understand and think “Oops! I need to hold it back and get it together.” And if they can’t hold it together, they get a red card and I’m called. They sit outside the room in a secure place where I talk to them, pray with them, and help them enter back into the classroom. I also talk to the parents. If the situation is one where they have become so impulsive that a chair flies across the room, they automatically earn a red card. I’m called and I call the parent and discuss what happens next.
Q: How can teachers learn about ADHD?
A: Judy
I have a teacher training about all different styles and kinds of children. As we go through that training, one of the types of children I talk about is the ADHD child and what might happen when one of them is in the classroom. We also talk about the “perfect” child and what’s going to happen when a teacher has one of them in the classroom. All children need to succeed in Sunday school. I really try to train my teachers that Jesus has called them to teach all children. They’re all here for a reason.
Q: How can churches approach parents who have ADHD kids?
A: Paul
An important point for teachers is to not use the label but to describe the behavior. Parents typically react to labels, but they’ll agree to the characteristics you describe. Teachers could describe Johnny as (don’t use the term “fidgeting”) always moving his feet, or tapping his hands, can’t sit in a chair for very long, blurts out and talks a lot, can’t keep his hands to himself, doesn’t really respond to discipline, or gets distracted off task really easily. Teachers should describe what’s going on and mention that all kids have these characteristics, but mention that Johnny seems to be struggling more than most.
I think teachers should be honest with parents regardless of how they think parents will respond. If teachers base their input on how parents will respond, they may not be totally straightforward with them. Lots of times it takes parents two, three, or four different kinds of input from different places before they start to realize or accept that there’s a problem. If teachers withdraw or withhold information, they’re possibly slowing down the process of getting that child some professional assistance. So, be honest and describe the behavior.
A: Judy
We also need to be honest with the parents’ feelings. Many of these parents are church-shopping with their child. They’re trying to find which church is going to accept their child because they’ve been tossed out or rejected from three other churches. Those parents are also hurting. We as children’s pastors or professionals need to come alongside and minister to those parents. They need a peer group and a support group.
Q: What should parents who have an ADHD child expect from the church?
A: Donna
It’s good if teachers know the child has ADHD and know how to deal with it. If the teachers could learn from the parents what message works best with their child, it might lessen the disturbances in the classroom. It would also help the other kids to not make a child an outcast or the “bad” kid.
A: Paul
I have an ADHD inattentive son who is 10 years old. It’s reasonable for teachers to have at least some baseline information about what ADHD is so they can understand the challenges that might occur in the classroom. I don’t think it’s realistic for all Sunday school teachers to handle all different situations, but at least they’re trying to understand ADHD characteristics and what small changes could make the classroom go more smoothly. I’d appreciate that kind of information from the church.
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