“Ask Brock”
Introducing “Ask Brock” – TVM’s newest Q&A column where you can seek guidance from our resident expert, Brock Grace, on matters related to youth mental health, special needs care, counseling, and family therapy. With a wealth of experience spanning therapeutic day treatment, residential care, respite services, and in-home counseling, Brock is here to offer insightful advice and practical strategies to help you navigate the complexities of supporting children and adolescents with mental health challenges or developmental disabilities.
Do you have questions or concerns about your child’s emotional well-being, behavior, or development? Are you looking for tips on creating a more supportive home environment or strengthening family bonds during difficult times? We invite you to submit your questions to “Ask Brock” and let our expert provide you with personalized guidance and support.
No matter how big or small your concerns may be, Brock is here to help. Send in your questions today to hello@triadvoicemag.com, and look forward to empowering advice in the upcoming issues of TVM. Your privacy is our utmost priority, and you can trust that your submissions will be handled with care, sensitivity, and confidentiality.
My 10-year-old son has been diagnosed with ADHD and struggles with impulsivity and focus in school. What are some effective strategies to help him better manage his symptoms and succeed academically?
Dear concerned parent,
One activity you can practice with your child, and that his teachers can reinforce in the school setting, is: S.T.O.P.
Children who have ADHD tend to do things without considering the consequences of their actions due to their impulsive nature. With the S.T.T.O.P. acronym, you want to encourage your child to (S) stop, (T) take a step back, (T) take a deep breath, (O) observe the situation, and (P) proceed mindfully.
You can first introduce this method at home by tracing each other’s hands (five fingers) on a sheet of paper. Afterwards, write the word STTOP on the fingers. Use a real-life example that’s recently taken place in which he would have benefited from this method to teach him the real-life implications of stopping, taking a step back/deep breath, observation, and proceeding mindfully. After you feel that he is aware of what each of the fingers represent have him practice the skill by closing his actual hand and calling out what each finger represents. Do this a few times, and you will also be teaching your son to take 5 seconds to process his impulsive thoughts before acting on them. His teacher can reinforce the skill at school by doing the same activity with his/her classroom and then placing a STOP sign on his desk or others to help him/them recall the steps.
This is not a magical tool however, aside from consistency and repetition, you may consider finding a trusted therapist with whom your son can relate, so that he can begin to compile daily “tools” in his “toolkit” for maneuvering through school and life.
