Contributed by Edward Hallowell, M.D., co-author of Driven to Distraction and Answers to Distraction, with John Ratey, M.D., per Dr. Hallowell on July 29, 1995 at a conference in Southfield, Michigan. FIFTY TIPS ON THE MANAGEMENT OF ADD 1. Be sure of the diagnosis 2. Educate yourself 3. Coaching 4. Encouragement 5. External Structure 6. Color coding 7. Use pizzazz 8. Make a good choice in a significant other 9. Have a structured "blow-out" time 10. Recharge your batteries 11. Set up your environment to reward rather than deflate 12. Realize what ADD is NOT 13. Choose "good," helpful addictions such as vigorous exercise 14. Understand mood changes and ways to manage these 15. A cycle of "startle" is followed by mini-panic dealt with by obsessing and ruminating 16. Educate and involve others 17. Give up guilt over high-stimulus-seeking behavior 18. Learn to joke with yourself and others about your various symptoms 19. Plan scenarios to deal with the inevitable blahs 20. Expect depression after success 21. Learn shorthand ways of labeling 22. Acknowledge and anticipate the inevitable collapse of x% of projects 23. Embrace challenges 24. Make deadlines 25. Break down large tasks into small ones 26. Listen to feedback from trusted others 27. Prioritize and avoid procrastination 28. Schedule activities with friends 29. Use time-outs as with children 30. Learn how to advocate for yourself 31. Avoid premature closure 32. Find and join groups where you are liked, appreciated and understood 33. Don't stay too long where you aren't understood or appreciated 34. Accept fear of things going too well 35. Try to let successful moments last and be remembered 36. Remember that ADD usually includes a tendency to over-focus 37. Pay compliments 38. Set social deadlines 39. Notice how and where you work best 40. Know that it is OK to do two things at once 41. Do what you are good at 42. Leave time between engagements to gather your thoughts 43. Consider joining or starting a support group 44. Try to get rid of negativity 45. Don't feel chained to conventional ways of coping 46. Exercise vigorously and regularly 47. Keep a notepad 48. Read with a pen in hand 49. Pay attention to eliminating harmful additions 50. Try to help others with ADD TEN TIPS ON STRUCTURING AND ORGANIZING THE LIFE OF THE CHILD WITH ADD 1. Write down the problem 2. Come up with specific remedies 3. Make use of concrete reminders like lists, schedules, etc. 4. Incentive plans and rewards 5. Give frequent feedback 6. Give responsibility whenever possible 7. Make copious use of praise and positive feedback 8. Consider using a coach or tutor for schoolwork 9. Provide the child with whatever devices he or she demonstrates can help 10. Always remember: negotiate, don't struggle. FIFTY TIPS ON THE CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT OF ADD 1. Make sure what you are dealing with really is ADD 2. Built your support 3. Know your limits 4. Ask the child what will help 5. Remember the emotional part of learning 6. ADD kids need structure 7. Post rules 8. Repeat and write down directions 9. Make frequent eye contact 10. Set the ADD child near your desk 11. Set limits, boundaries 12. Have as predictable a schedule as possible 13. Try to help the children make their own schedules 14. Eliminate, or reduce the frequency of timed tests 15. Allow for escape-valve outlets 16. Go for quality rather than quantity of homework 17. Monitor progress often 18. Break down large tasks into small tasks 19. Let yourself be playful, have fun 20. Watch out for over-stimulation 21. Underscore success as much as possible 22. Teach little memory tricks like mnemonics, flash cards, etc. 23. Use outlines. Teach outlining. Teach underlining. 24. Repeat 25. Simplify instructions 26. Use feedback that helps the child become self-observant 27. Make expectations explicit 28. Children with ADD respond well to rewards and incentives 29. Offer specific and explicit advice (a sort of social coaching) 30. Teach test-taking skills 31. Make a game plan out of things 32. Separate pairs and trios that don't do well together 33. Pay attention to connectedness 34. Give responsibility back t the child when possible 35. Try a home-to-school notebook 36. Try to use daily progress reports 37. Physical devices such as timers and buzzers can help with self-monitoring 38. Prepare for unstructured time 39. Praise, stroke, approve, encourage, nourish 40. With older children, suggest that they write little notes to themselves 41. Suggest learning how to type. Consider giving some tests orally. 42. Get the group's attention before beginning 43. Arrange for students to have a "study buddy." 44. Avoid stigma 45. Meet with parents often 46. Encourage reading aloud at home 47. Repeat, repeat, repeat 48. Encourage physical exercise 49. With older children, stress preparation 50. Always be on the lookout for sparkling moments