Consequences vs. Punishment
a behavior management strategy in dealing with ADHD and ADD students
An explanation of how consequences differ from punishment and why children need to have consequences for their behavior even if it relates to their attention deficit hype
Whenever I'm working out strategies with parents or teachers, I usually come to a point where I discuss the difference between consequences and punishment. I do not believe in punishing a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder for behavior that was caused by their ADHD, but I do believe consequences are necessary.
What's the difference?
Consequences are natural outcomes for behavior. I know if I don't pay my electric bill, the consequence will be that my electricity gets turned off and I have to pay a fee to have it restored. The electric company doesn't call me and lecture me. They don't remind me of all the other times I promised I would pay on time and I didn't. There is no emotion involved. The consequences were set and told to me in advance. It doesn't matter that I have ADHD or that can cause me to be forgetful and not pay my bills. I still have to pay the consequences.
That's life. The nice thing is that once it is paid, the whole situation is put into the past and only brought up again if there is a continuing problem directly relating to it. In a school and home situation, these principles should be applied in order to prepare students for this. Too many times, I've seen students who were very good at making excuses for their behavior and felt that should be enough to excuse that behavior. Often times the parents would say to the teacher, "You don't understand. You don't have ADHD."
They couldn't say that to me. So here's some tips on how to start applying consequences to behavior.
- Be proactive and not reactive. Address behaviors before they happen and set up the consequences. Before you're annoyed or frustrated with the child.
- Decide on a consequence that is logical but not one that will cause a repeat of the behavior. This comes into play with hyperactivity behavior. Teachers should never shorten recess or lunch periods for hyperactive behavior. Students with ADHD need that time to burn off as much energy as possible. I would much rather see the student have to do 25 jumping jacks or even run laps around the playground, than sitting inside during that time.
- Write down the consequences and review it with the child when necessary. If Johnny was talking during class. Ask Johnny what the rule was about talking. Usually, the student will state the rule and the consequence. You simply agree and explain that's what is going to happen. Do this privately rather than in front of siblings or other students.
- If the child protests, remind them that the rules were set up before and they didn't protest them then. It is unfair to protest a rule after breaking it. If they didn't like it, they should have discussed it earlier. End of story.
- If a child repeated breaks a rule, the consequence is not harsh enough or being applied consistently. Most people speed on the interstate because they are not always caught and even when they are, the fines won't hurt most of us. If you were caught every time you were speeding, you wouldn't speed. If the fine was the loss of your driver's license, you wouldn't speed.
- Don't be afraid to adapt. Re-evaluate the situation and see if it's working. If it doesn't work, change it. But make sure that you've given things a chance first.
