Age group(s) for which this technique is helpful:
Preschool and Younger
Elementary School

Primarily used to improve behavior:
At Home

Instructions for using this technique:
Children with ADD have difficulty with transitions from one activity to another or one place to another. To reduce power struggles, keep as regular a schedule as possible so your child will begin to anticipate the transitions.

You can even make a picture chart of the days schedule with laminated pictures that velcro onto the chart. The night before or in the morning, you talk about what will happen on that day. For example, picture of placesetting (breakfast), picture of toys (freeplay), picture of clothes (getting dressed), picture of toothbrush and hairbrush, picture of car (drive to daycare), picture of daycare, picture of lunch at daycare, picture of car (drive home), picture of grocery store, picture of placemat at home (dinner), picture of video/TV, picture of bathtub, picture of pajamas.

Talking about each of these is important too. You may find out things that will give you more understanding of the causes of tantrums. Such as, they don't like to go to the grocery store because it is too loud or they have to wait too long in line, etc.

If you know what the problem area is, then sometimes you can come up with creative solutions. If the store is too loud, an inexpensive tape player with headphones and a story tape form the library could make a real difference. If waiting in line is hard, perhaps you could take along a new story book to bring out when you get in line.

Be creative, talk with your child about what it is that is making the experience difficult.