Mindfulness for Children with ADHD

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neuro-developmental disorder that can have a significant impact on a child's behaviour, academic performance, and social interactions. The effects of ADHD on children may include:

• Inattention: difficulty paying attention to details, following instructions, and completing tasks.
• Hyperactivity: having a hard time sitting still and may seem restless or fidgety.
• Impulsivity: act before thinking and have difficulty controlling their impulses.
• Academic difficulties: struggling with academic tasks, such as reading, writing, and math.
• Social difficulties: having trouble making and keeping friends, and may struggle with social interactions.
• Emotional difficulties: being more prone to emotional outbursts, frustration, and anger.
• Sleep problems: having difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.

While ADHD affects each child differently, and some children may have more severe symptoms than others. It's also important to remember that children with ADHD are not lazy, unmotivated, or unintelligent. With proper support, children with ADHD can learn to manage their symptoms and thrive. Mindfulness training is one such support that can be provided for children with ADHD and it can be beneficial as it can help them with:

• Better emotional regulation: better regulating their emotions, reduce impulsivity, and manage their behaviour.
• Reduced stress and anxiety: reducing stress and anxiety by teaching them how to manage their thoughts and emotions, and to be more present in the moment.
• Increased self-awareness: developing greater self-awareness, helping them understand their own needs and triggers, and learn to manage them more effectively.
• Improved social skills: improving their social skills by teaching them how to be present, listen actively, and communicate more effectively with others.

Our mindfulness program for children with ADHD can be a helpful support for children with ADHD to manage their symptoms and improve their overall well-being. We encourage parents to use mindfulness practices in conjunction with other treatment options, such as medication or therapy, for the best outcomes.

Participants will receive:

• Mindfulness workbook
• MP3 files for practices

Session Dates (Sundays):

January 2024:  14th, 21st, 28th

February 2024: 4th, 18th, 25th

March 2024: 3rd, 10th

10:00am to 11:15am

Venue to be confirmed

About the trainer Ms Priya Fafat:

Priya's professional journey has taken her on various career paths due to multiple moves across the globe. She started her career 20 years ago as an ophthalmologist, followed by a Master’s degree in Public Health. Over time, she actively delved into public health research, pharmaceutical sales & marketing analytics and retail entrepreneurship. Eventually - in the pursuit of figuring out “Self” and “Life” and understanding the rising mental health issues - she trained to become a mental health counselor and a certified mindfulness coach. She credits her daily mindfulness practice as the impetus for a very transformational, liberating and life-enhancing journey toward holistic well-being. It has brought new meaning to her daily routine of juggling the roles of a wife, a mother, a doctor, a researcher and entrepreneur and an all-around cheerleader for the community around her.

Extremely passionate about the idea of empowering oneself and others around her to be the best version of themselves, Priya’s goal is to make mindfulness available, accessible and relatable to people, leading them to a healthier, more meaningful and successful life experience. She strongly believes that mindfulness can be therapeutic, prophylactic and restorative.

In her words, her role as a health care professional has graduated from 'eyesight' to 'insight'.

Priya’s strength lies in seamlessly integrating her medical & psychology background and her broad exposure to diverse cultures and people to contextualize mindfulness for a wide range of audiences. Her workshops range from nurturing compassionate leadership, employee wellbeing and team cohesiveness and growth for corporates and school leaders, stress reduction, socio-emotional learning and resilience building for children and youth, joyful parenting for parents and to guiding individuals and community at large to find their inherent strength and capacity to navigate life’s ups and downs for a healthier, more wholesome & peaceful life.

In addition, combining her own mindfulness journey and experience as a mother of 2, Priya has recently designed and developed a Mindful Parenting program and a Parent Child Bonding program. The aim of these programs is to guide parents to nurture their children to bloom and fly high and wide, to support their children to develop and reach their full potential, to keep their children rooted and grounded in human values, and to always provide them the comfort of the safe landing zone in their parents and homes.

Academic Qualifications

• Master’s in Public Health (Epidemiology & Biostatistics), University of Illinois at Chicago, USA
• Diploma in Ophthalmology (D.O), Lokmanya Tilak Medical Hospital, INDIA
• Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.B.S), Lokmanya Tilak Medical Hospital, INDIA
• Graduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology, College of Allied Educators, Singapore
• Certificate in Teaching Mindfulness and Mindfulness Based Courses, Singapore

Others

• Certified Mindfulness Teacher - Professional, International Mindfulness Teachers Association