SmartCoach Program FAQ |
We believe most parents with an AD/HD child achieve a deep understanding of AD/HD and available treatments. Given that premise, it was our intention to respond to all FAQs as sufficiently as possible, which may lead some to believe that we were too verbose. Our intent was never to achieve prolixity (or brevity for that matter), but only to enable the parents to make decisions based on ‘facts’ concerning our program. |
|
|
|
|
Our basic business tenet is empowering your child’s uniqueness and strengths, rather than correcting your child’s flaws and weaknesses. This may sound too good to be true or even impractical. Yet, we firmly believe in that principle and SmartCoach founder Jimmy Rhee insists on that tenet of “building on strengths” as espoused by education-expert Joseph Renzulli.
Children with special challenges, including AD/HD, are more likely to build fulfilling and productive lives on developed strengths rather than on remediated weaknesses. If all we do for those wonderfully courageous children facing challenges everyday is remediating their weaknesses, they will certainly sense very early in life that they are disordered or somewhat insufficient. What does this do to their self-esteem? No further expatiation seems required. back to top |
Our SmartCoach program is unique and highly beneficial because it combines concepts and techniques from many disciplines, namely, three major areas of knowledge with specific focus on helping children with AD/HD: |
- Coaching techniques that focus on strengths and successes to reclaim self-esteem and build self-reliance.
- Behavior modification exercises to help change a child’s attitude and beliefs for more productive behaviors
- Selective SmartBrain™ and fitness movements for brain stimulation. This part may incorporate certain martial arts tenets and movements for focus, structure, etc.
- Computer based Attention Enhancing training to enable children to see a direct correlation between attention and behavior – an empowering experience. Please see our Brain Train section.
|
Our view is that AD/HD is not a single problem which can be helped with single solution. Your child needs an integrated plan that includes a mixture of approaches. Since AD/HD can impact your child’s life in a variety of ways, our program can be tremendously beneficial as it addresses these major areas: Self-esteem, behaviors, family relationship, social relationships, school life, life skills, and leadership. back to top |
Yes. We accept children who take, as well as those who do not take, medications. Our SmartCoach program does not require anyone to take or refuse medications such as Ritalin, Adderall, etc. Medication is a personal decision supported by professional advice. back to top |
It is important to state here that people who are successful and happy in life are people who do what they love and love what they do. We at SmartCoach believe every child (with or without AD/HD) possesses the magical tool residing in his or her mind which can bring about boundless joy in life. To thrive in life, each child must find out what he or she is good at, and then build upon those talents and skills. When a child finds something he or she is good at and enjoys doing, the concept of discipline, practice, recognition, connectedness, etc. naturally follow, as well as flow!
Children with AD/HD more often than not suffer from low self-esteem, lack of confidence, and little or no motivation. The best remedy for that is to lead them through the process where they attain mastery at something they find interesting and good at. Once they find something they truly enjoy doing and pursuing, the following is the likely scenario your child will experience at SmartCoach: |
- Being connected to somebody who enjoys doing the same activity for a sense of being, belonging and grounding
- Having fun with activities and becoming "imaginatively" involved
- When a child is “involved,” his or her brain lights up. The child glows!
- When a child is having fun, practice naturally emerges out of play from repeating
- With practice, the child attains mastery and becomes skillful
- By becoming good at something, other people notice and recognize the child
- By being recognized, the feelings of self-esteem and confidence are consolidated and strengthened.
- Being recognized also connects the child to people who recognized him or her and deepens the connection, which, in essence, is the root of moral behavior that can lead the child to a productive and fulfilling life
|
Bottom line: We at SmartCoach believe there are many books and guidelines on how to avoid “problems” or “negatives” when they affect you. Rather than taking that approach, we want to put the emphasis on “positives,” namely, your child’s potential strengths and talents, as they are where self-esteem, confidence, and motivation take root and grow – as well as glow! back to top |
Our unique program utilizing selective martial arts movements with an emphasis on the basic triad of AD/HD symptoms (distractibility, impulsivity, and hyperactivity) “switch on” the brain-integration mechanism necessary for efficient learning. Exercise programs that stimulate the brain have been empirically validated to have positive effects on self-esteem, social skills, and behaviors relevant to school performance as measured by the Morand-Klein Behavior Checklist. As an example, movements that imitate a letter “X” or number “8” (sideways) are very powerful symbols for an AD/HD brain. Both hemispheres of the neocortex and the developed neural pathways of the corpus callosum are required in order to see the center of these symbols, thus enhancing the growth and activation of nerve networks throughout the brain. These movements build the hardware inside the brain to assure success for life-long learning.
In short, our program utilizes martial arts as one of the major learning disciplines, along with skills designed to improve social relationships, academic performance, and self-esteem. We use martial arts, as well as various other movements to achieve both physical and mental benefits for children with AD/HD. The physical benefits include a healthier body, a more oxygenated/integrated brain, and better processing of the potential dietary culprits of hyperactivity, such as processed sugar and high-fat junk food. As an example, the physical demands of martial arts tire the body and take the impulsive edge off the hyperactive child. Certain selective martial arts movements which allow a quick burst of combinations consisting of kicks and punches are likened to pushing the reset button on a child’s brain. It has the effect of changing the brain’s chemistry that can bring about focus and a refreshed feeling. The mental benefits include learning how to focus, respect and persevere. As an example, meditation practice can teach the AD/HD child the self-discipline of sitting still, focusing the mind, and being able to achieve self-control through a self-initiated, inner activity. All in all, we utilize martial arts as a part of our program content to provide structure and movements demanding self-control. back to top
|
All our coaches are personally trained in three aspects of SmartCoach Program: Understanding AD/HD, behavioral modification techniques, basic martial arts/fitness tenets/movements and coaching methodologies. In addition, all our coaches are recertified annually. back to top
|
Every lesson is different for each level of the program your child may be enrolled in. Most classes start with a good dose of selective martial arts training and fun fitness exercises to stimulate the brain and make the rest of the class enjoyable and productive. In addition, there will be many simulation activities to improve social skills, school behavior, family relations, and self esteem, just to mention a few. When appropriate and ready, your child may be called upon to lead the exercise to experience “peer interaction” and “leadership” both which enhance self esteem. Also, our coaches will engage your child in social skills training or games to teach elements of social behavior as well as simulating the important skills required in a group setting. In addition, we will teach your child to master simple martial arts movements which are expressible opportunities for impulsivity and creativity. Since children learn skills in small, digestible chunks, they will also learn to develop their concentration skills in small, achievable steps. We teach your child to internalize valuable life skills by breaking down tasks into small, manageable components, and coaching your child to experience, and being satisfied with, small successes.
The crux is to teach and coach useful skills but without forgetting the fun part which is essential for prompting and sustaining young people’s motivation and commitment. back to top
|
You may email your question to your coach or
info@smartcoach.us back to top
|
You may email your suggestions/comments to your coach or
info@smartcoach.us
back to top
|
Thank you.
|