First Visit to SPARK (with Mr Lee)
During the first visit to SPARK, our group met up with the personnel in charge, Mr Lee Swee Huat where he gave us more information and knowledge about ADHD kids. The first encounter with Mr Lee was very fruitful and the friendly personality of his managed to bring about an engaging discussion that helped in our planning of activities for the kids.
In terms of their treatments, there are many different approaches and therapies that are undergoing to improve upon some of their conditions. Some of which includes sensory integration, acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Other than in terms of the medical field, the unwavering support and guidance by the family and councilors are equally important to ameliorate their conditions.
According to Mr Lee, it will be considerably easier for us to “handle” and “deal with” primary school kids as some in the secondary or tertiary levels may have more defiant and problematic people which we may not be able to cope with.
The awareness of such disorder is still quite lacking in the current society and there are certain cases whereby the parents of these kids do not even know that their children have such problems or disorder. As such, Mr Lee proposes that we can try working with the parent support groups in schools to raise greater awareness with regards to ADHD. Though we can actually help organize talks to be conducted in primary schools, the problem lies with the mindsets of some schools which may not be keen and they prioritize such talks as more insignificant. Besides that, the role that the MOE plays is also pivotal here but despite knowing the current situation, it is not doing much probably due to a constrained budget and resources.
With regards to SPARK, their understanding about ADHD can help offer us some advice with their expertise. Our roles come into play during the monthly meetings they hold (usually the first Saturday of the month, other than public holiday) which last for a few hours. In the absence of adults to take care of them, as volunteers, we can come in to take care of them or they will be running all around, shouting etc, disturbing the meeting itself. During this period of few hours, quality time can be spent so that they can perhaps pick up a skill or two instead of “bouncing around”, wasting their time. It will be easier to work in small groups, preferably on a 1-to-1 basis so that more attention can be spent on understanding more about every individual. An annual outing with a group of the kids is a tradition for SPARK and they mention that we can actually help in organizing this particular event.
Like for the rationale for most service learning projects, the activities that we carry out should cater to the needs of our target group. Similarly, Mr Lee did mention that we should plan and execute activities that can actually benefit and cater to the REAL NEEDS of the kids. Some areas that we can tackle with will be: 1) providing guidance in terms of academics (eg. like in the form of tuition), 2) teaching life and social skills via sharing sessions, 3) carrying out activities that will arouse their interest (perhaps like magic tricks or some hands-on art and craft)
There is actually not much of a difference between ADHD children and normal kids until they lose their control. When such a case occurs, their hyperactivity will then show, like jumping up and down sofas. Appropriate guidance is crucial here and SPARK believes that the kids should have role models to follow to understand better about certain social and life skills that will benefit them (minimize the chances for them to get into trouble) which we deem as common sense. Mr Lee commented that some ADHD kids possess tremendous potential learning and have high IQ but lack the social skills that are also equally important in the EQ aspect. (as some may be too direct in their words) It was also mentioned that the ADHD children can not be collectively be termed as naughty as they find lots of things boring and try to seek excitement of their own, which may thus get them into trouble at times.
Our project will come in particularly relevant if we were to compare it with what certain schools are currently doing. Some schools now are trying to allow a “role model” to actually sit beside an ADHD kid to understand and learn the dos’ and don’ts’ from these “role models”.
After understanding these “basic contextual knowledge” on ADHD kids, SPARK and some of the areas that we can tackle with, we have decided to work and plan out activities that have relations with the senses, especially the ear and eye, hopefully will be able to capture their attention.
Jun Xin
In terms of their treatments, there are many different approaches and therapies that are undergoing to improve upon some of their conditions. Some of which includes sensory integration, acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Other than in terms of the medical field, the unwavering support and guidance by the family and councilors are equally important to ameliorate their conditions.
According to Mr Lee, it will be considerably easier for us to “handle” and “deal with” primary school kids as some in the secondary or tertiary levels may have more defiant and problematic people which we may not be able to cope with.
The awareness of such disorder is still quite lacking in the current society and there are certain cases whereby the parents of these kids do not even know that their children have such problems or disorder. As such, Mr Lee proposes that we can try working with the parent support groups in schools to raise greater awareness with regards to ADHD. Though we can actually help organize talks to be conducted in primary schools, the problem lies with the mindsets of some schools which may not be keen and they prioritize such talks as more insignificant. Besides that, the role that the MOE plays is also pivotal here but despite knowing the current situation, it is not doing much probably due to a constrained budget and resources.
With regards to SPARK, their understanding about ADHD can help offer us some advice with their expertise. Our roles come into play during the monthly meetings they hold (usually the first Saturday of the month, other than public holiday) which last for a few hours. In the absence of adults to take care of them, as volunteers, we can come in to take care of them or they will be running all around, shouting etc, disturbing the meeting itself. During this period of few hours, quality time can be spent so that they can perhaps pick up a skill or two instead of “bouncing around”, wasting their time. It will be easier to work in small groups, preferably on a 1-to-1 basis so that more attention can be spent on understanding more about every individual. An annual outing with a group of the kids is a tradition for SPARK and they mention that we can actually help in organizing this particular event.
Like for the rationale for most service learning projects, the activities that we carry out should cater to the needs of our target group. Similarly, Mr Lee did mention that we should plan and execute activities that can actually benefit and cater to the REAL NEEDS of the kids. Some areas that we can tackle with will be: 1) providing guidance in terms of academics (eg. like in the form of tuition), 2) teaching life and social skills via sharing sessions, 3) carrying out activities that will arouse their interest (perhaps like magic tricks or some hands-on art and craft)
There is actually not much of a difference between ADHD children and normal kids until they lose their control. When such a case occurs, their hyperactivity will then show, like jumping up and down sofas. Appropriate guidance is crucial here and SPARK believes that the kids should have role models to follow to understand better about certain social and life skills that will benefit them (minimize the chances for them to get into trouble) which we deem as common sense. Mr Lee commented that some ADHD kids possess tremendous potential learning and have high IQ but lack the social skills that are also equally important in the EQ aspect. (as some may be too direct in their words) It was also mentioned that the ADHD children can not be collectively be termed as naughty as they find lots of things boring and try to seek excitement of their own, which may thus get them into trouble at times.
Our project will come in particularly relevant if we were to compare it with what certain schools are currently doing. Some schools now are trying to allow a “role model” to actually sit beside an ADHD kid to understand and learn the dos’ and don’ts’ from these “role models”.
After understanding these “basic contextual knowledge” on ADHD kids, SPARK and some of the areas that we can tackle with, we have decided to work and plan out activities that have relations with the senses, especially the ear and eye, hopefully will be able to capture their attention.
Jun Xin
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