Hi Everyone,
I have a son that just turned 8 that I will be homeschooling next year. He has ADD, CAPD, and dyslexia. He has a hard time learning due to these conditions and it’s very difficult to teach him. Here is my problem:
I have spent most of my son’s life being very ill with a chronic condition. I have never been able to spend much time doing the things most parents do to enrich their children’s lives, especially in the early years. Things like reading, going to museums, doing crafts, and exposure to different things. Unfortunately, he spent a lot of time parked in front of the TV or just playing with toys. Now my health is much, much better and I’m wondering what can I do now to help him at this late date. He has missed out on a lot of things and I’d like to know what I can do to make this up the time we missed—that is, if he’s not too old to make up for lost time. I’d love to hear any suggestions or advice and thank you in advance.
Andrea
Re: What Should I Do With My Son?
What does he like to do ?? Some of the best time I have spent getting to know my sons is doing something with them that they really like. My oldest son loves Legos …. we built a zoo like you would not believe when he was about 9 and we talked while we built stuff. I think my son realized at that point that we could work together towards a goal …. I kind of built on that. When my son was younger he was also considered ADD … but really his problems were CAPD related (along with other issues) It seemed pretty obvious because he could spend hours working on Lego but couldn’t focus on his school work . Do you have any programs in place re: the CAPD issue ?? Have you looked at Fast ForWord ? Good luck and good health!
Susan
Re: What Should I Do With My Son?
My son is 8+ dyslexic and capd…probably add also. What do we do? We read a book together. We learn math. We talk about the universe, the seasons, why water evaporates. I help him clean his room and fold his laundry. He cooks with my supervision. I hold him on my lap and tell him he’s the best, I’m so lucky to have him in my life. I help him out of the bath and do his hair with gel and help him dry off. I paint his face like a pirate. I teach him lindamood. We soak then plant sweet peas. I talk to him before bedtime. Enjoy your son and he’ll enjoy you.
Some thoughts, at random
You can’t exactly make up things, but you can make the best of the time you have now, which is all any of us can do.
I also have had some serious illnesses. I haven’t had money or stable employment, and when I remarried, my husband kind of changed his mind about taking care of me and left again. I haven’t been able to give my daughter everything I would want to. But I did always give her as much as I could of myself. A few years back when the byword in improving children’s education was more parental attention, she would pretend to scream in pain and flee from the room, claiming she already had far too much parental attention. I hope your son can say the same. Even flat on your back you can talk to him and read to him and be there when he comes home.
Yes, if you feel healthier, do start on the museum trips and the zoo trips and the beach and all that. Eight is still very young. He can absorb a lot of learning by going places. But don’t overdo it and don’t put too much pressure on it. The idea is to have fun and find out about things you enjoy. If you overload,. he will feel stressed, and it won’t be special any more. Once a week is enough, even once or twice a month.
Work hard on basic reading and get his phonics down. That will open many more doors to him.
And do try to limit the TV; not only is it a time-eater, but the attitudes taught are a real problem. The best way to limit the TV is not to fight, but to provide other activities that are far more fun. Swimming lessons, soccer team, skating lessons and hockey team, reading tutor, math skills challenge, music lessons and learning to play an instrument; your goal is to have him never turn on the TV because he’s too busy with something important. Except for music lessons, these are all fairly inexpensive if not free from the community. And music lessons are absolutely worth the price.
Computer skills and internet buddies can be good, and there is a lot of fantastic information out there, but have a care as computer games are another time-eater, as bad as TV or worse.