Victoria - So here we are, week 10, we're wrapping it up, but we've got a little bit  more to pack in yet. So I want you to hear again from Barb as she helps us to  consider some other areas. And then I will pop in with some other resources and ideas in and out of this week. But I want you to hear a lot from Barb and the  expertise that she has to share. 

Barb - Here are some things that we think might just be helpful information for  congregations. We've heard a lot of feedback that these areas are helpful to  consider. 

So here we go, other areas to consider, creating more understanding. And this  first week, we're going to talk about something called ADHD in our first  portion. So attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is something you may have  heard of. 

You may know somebody who has been diagnosed with that. Again, if we look  at this framework now that we're getting sort of used to those things that our  brain is responsible for, that piece called attention controls can be pink. It can be an area of challenge in someone. 

But remember, where those pink areas are, we're confident that there are also  areas of green and gifting. So as I highlight a pink, remember, that's always in  that promise of scripture that each one has those gifts to bring to the  community. So remember to understand it's always in that context. 

But I would really love to give you a chance to think a little bit about the biology  of ADHD, the things that we know now. And so let me just put up some of these  pictures and give a chance to think about this. You know, your brain is made up  of billions of neurons. 

And the thing about neurons is they don't touch. There's a space in the middle  called the synapse. And our brains rely on the work of chemicals called  neurotransmitters to be able to fill in that gap to do a variety of things for us. So for example, we have a neurotransmitter for something called, it's called  serotonin. It helps us keep our mood calm. And you know, we're feeling good  about life, keeps us free of anxiety. 

If that's not true for a particular day, we work on our serotonin, right? We work  on our mood. Maybe we decide to go sit in the sunshine. When you're here in  Michigan, good luck on that one.

It's November and December, tough to find a patch of sunshine. But some of  you may live in a community where there is abundant sunshine. It's really helpful for those who are looking for that serotonin. 

Sometimes people take medication. They take medication like maybe Prozac or  Wellbutrin to be able to have that serotonin do its work in more plentiful supply in that synapse. Well, you also have neurotransmitters that help work on this thing  called paying attention or executive functioning. 

Dopamine is one of them, as is norepinephrine. And those particular  neurotransmitters help us focus. They help us know when to shift our focus to  something else. 

Those are our attention neurotransmitters along with other jobs I'm sure that  they're responsible for. But here's the thing. If they're not doing their job, some  individuals may choose to take some medication for that. 

They might take something called Ritalin or a part of that family, Ritalin long acting or Ritalin that's 12 hours called Concerta. Might take something in the  Adderall family or Adderall XR or Vyvanse, which is also part of the Adderall  family. Or they might take something called Stratera. 

The thing with these medications, however, is the only one that goes in your  body and lasts for 24 hours is Stratera. And Stratera only works if the  neurotransmitter that's being impacted is norepinephrine. If it's something else, if it's, you know, then Ritalin, Adderall, Vyvanse, those are important medications  that help when the dopamine is in short supply. 

But all of the others except for Stratera, they don't work for 24 hours. You can't  have them in your system for 24 hours. Medication has certain side effects. So you put that pill in your mouth at 7 a.m. and it's one of the medications that  lasts perhaps for 12 hours. When does it run out? 7 p.m., right in the middle of  your youth group, actually. And here's the thing, any one of those  medications, they might last for four hours or six hours or for whatever amount. And when it's out, it's out. And so, you know, you can't just give that extra  pill because there are side effects. People often don't sleep on medication and  often you can have an appetite suppressant, just not hungry. 

So you need that medication to wear out. And you know what? It does. Right in  the middle of your evening programs and you can almost feel the energy enter  into the group.

This surge of energy that's coming back at about six or seven p.m. as those  medications wear off that kids have taken during the day. Clearly, those kids  who weren't hungry are now really hungry. And so if you were serving a  snack, I'll tell you what, they are famished. 

They haven't eaten all day and they probably will wipe out your snack table. The other thing that happens is as the medication is coming out of your system, your brain needs to kick in and say, oh my goodness, I guess I better make a little  more dopamine right now. And while it's waiting to catch that signal, you are in  incredibly short supply of that neurotransmitter that helps you focus. 

Those evening church groups, I think, take such a hit because those meds are  all wearing off. Those kids are often coming down. Now, I'm not promoting or not promoting medication. 

That's not my business. I'm just saying that I know many children, teens that are  on medication experience this and experience this in the evening hours. Also,  there are three types of ADHD and I just want to point that out. 

You can have the hyperactive type or the impulsive type is actually the correct  word for that. So you have ADHD impulsive type. Our psychologist refers to that  as the ready aim, ready fire aim approach to life as opposed to the ready aim  fire. 

So you just sort of do stuff, like words fly out of your mouth and then you might  bat the person next to you and it's like, oh man, I did it again. And you don't  realize it because it's just this impulsive act. The other type that you may have is the inattentive type. 

And this, yeah, well, this is one where there's not maybe a lot of extra  movement but you might be talking about a passage in the Bible and that  person is nowhere near what you're talking about. In fact, they might be thinking  about the vacation they took last summer or maybe the way your lips go  together to form the letter M. They are not thinking about the Bible passage that  you are talking about. So that again is that inattentive type. 

And then you can have a combined type of both impulsivity and inattention and  have both going on at the same time. So again, some take medications, some  don't choose to do that but it certainly is a big deal, especially in evening  programs in certain communities as well as the fact that some individuals don't  happen to take medication on the weekends. And so they've experienced a very

different week and what happens there and then they're here, they're here for  youth group, Sunday school, whatever. 

Also, this is not just for children. Adults also, you don't get rid of ADHD, it just is  part of your life but so many times adults have way more choices than children  have. So they can choose a career for whom that's working pretty well for them. They can choose a career where they have more movement. They can choose  

a career where that doesn't interfere with what they're doing. But our settings  where we often make people sit and listen and sort of do that for extended  periods of time can put real pressure on that attention system. 

I know that's true for adults too. I've been sitting by a few adults that are, if the  sermon goes a little too long, they're on their phones playing Candy Crush or  whatever the flavor of the day is because they have to do something in order to  stay engaged or they're moving around or they choose the job in the church  where they're the ones counting all the people because they get to get up  partway through the service and do that job so that they can sit back down in  any event. So there are all these different ramifications in this area of ADHD. 

But I do wanna spend some time thinking about strategies, especially since  either number one, that may have happened that you have those meds that are  wearing off and you have some children or youth in that setting, people on the  weekend, or you have individuals that simply may have ADHD, haven't chosen  medication. This is just part of their life. This is how life rolls for them. 

So what are some strategies that we can use? And I would say many of these  are true for children as well as adults. But I think one of those things that's really  helpful is to add structure. For an adult, it might be that order of worship so that  they know how that's going to work out for them. 

There's another part that we're gonna talk about called be understanding and  also give choices. So there's the ABCs of ADHD. Add structure, be  understanding, and give choices. 

So how do we add structure? Actually, we can add structure to space. If you  think about it, this chair right here is pretty unstructured. We don't have many  parts to that chair. 

You add arms, oh my goodness, now we've got these three boundaries around  us. And if you push it up against the table, now we've got this sort of comfortable box. So sometimes adding structure can be helpful.

Remember those great carpet squares I showed you the other day? And I'll see  if I can resurrect that. Remember how I said these giant parking spots were  helpful for boundaries, right? I can see where I need to be on the floor. But also,  these are a great way just to structure a large gym or something, a space like  that, and you just throw these down. 

Now, you've now added structure to this large space. So for that individual that  hits the gymnasium of your church and they just start running laps, once you  throw these down, you say, okay, everybody pick a parking spot, you've now  added structure to space. So think about that. 

There are many ways to do that. You can add structure to time. We've talked  about those time timers before. We've talked about visual schedules  before. Again, those are ways to add structure to time, and that can be super  helpful. Remember, too, that again, as you're employing some of these things,  these can be used in adult settings as well. The pastor who needed that time  timer. But also, again, there's your order of worship. It adds structure. 

I know how long I need to hang in there, before we get to this thing called  benediction, or closing prayer, depending what wording you're using at this  point. You can add structure to materials. Remember, I showed you that  highlighter tape, right? It highlights that place in the Bible. 

Read Ephesians 2:10, and now I've got it highlighted so I know even if I've lost  my place, even if I've been inattentive, I know when it's my turn where verse 10  is in the Bible. So that can be helpful. Outlining things can be helpful so that we  give structure to things that are materials that we're reading or looking at. 

That, too, remember, I gave that suggestion about highlighting that person's  robe to color. Again, that's adding structure to a piece of paper. So materials can benefit from structure. 

Many other ideas, in fact, think about some of those strategies we've talked  about that can all filter into being supportive for individuals who may have  ADHD. I think that be understanding is really an important part. I suppose one of those things that I often like to highlight is this one. 

Okay, honey, I've got a sticker chart for you now and I'm gonna put it right here. I got your favorite stickers, here we go. They're from that movie Frozen. I know 

you love that one so much. And you know what? I'm gonna give you a sticker on this chart every time you can make more insulin. Ready, set, go. 

Would we ever say that to a child who's a diabetic? Seriously? They can't will  themselves to make more insulin to combat diabetes, right? That's not what we  can give stickers to this child for because it's ridiculous, it's biological. Guess  what? So is ADHD. It's a neurological, biologically based issue. 

And so here we are trying to get kids, oh, you be a good girl, you sit there, you  get a cookie. And really they will use up because they wanna please you. All  their brake fluid and it's gone. 

And so maybe you can get that for 10, 15 minutes but that doesn't mean that's  going to last. So be careful, be understanding. I think this information is really  helpful for leaders of evening groups, just leaders in general. 

Be careful what you ask kids to do. But we also don't want to say, well, do  whatever you want to. That's not appropriate. 

It might be ADHD, but let's give some choices. You know what? Want you to be  good at listening today. Where would you like to sit? That's an option we can  build in. 

And again, every time you provide choices, the options need to be okay with  you. So I'm comfortable with these three choices, pick one. In fact, I give you  one moving coupon that during the middle of this lesson you may move from  one chair to the other, right? So whatever that might be, but give some choices. 

You could give choices with materials. You know what? Which set of materials  do you wanna use for this project? Anyone is fine with me, but go for it. You  could give choices in a sanctuary with adults, right? Add movement. 

You could say, you know what? You're welcome to stay seated during worship  today or during the message today. You're also welcome to stand on the  side, just really interested in engaging everybody in the topic for the  day. Choices, sit, stand, you know, those kinds of things. 

Introducing movement, maybe even as the pastor, maybe the pastor learns one  particular gesture that goes with the word Lord. And so every time people hear  it, they're also invited to talk about that, the Lord of their life. You're putting  movement within the message.

So whether that's a kid setting or an adult setting, that can be helpful. Here are a couple of resources. Play through the Bible. 

There's a bake through the Bible. And once again, we're back to this one. How  can we get multiple senses involved? Teach us to pray is a wonderful resource  for families at home and also a multi-sensory opportunity for families to engage  in devotions or time together. 

That's put out through the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and a great  resource to look into. So as you think about that, how are we engaging multiple  senses? And because we covered this, again, many of the strategies that we  talked about, particular with people with autism spectrum disorder, will be  incredibly helpful in this area as well. So as we allow movement, as we stock  some equipment, as we put in those seats and cushions, we just are inviting  people into that place of being able to move while also focusing and listen. 

A couple of things I had looked for the other day and couldn't find, but you've  seen the fidget pencils by now and I know the wiggle cushions, but here is that  TheraBand that's featured down there that we often wrap or suggest people  wrap around the bottom portion of a chair. Of course, if the chair between those  two front legs already has like a metal bar, it doesn't work. But if this can be that  metal bar on the front legs, it allows people to hook their feet back behind  that and just push against it. 

Again, the kiddo who was using this the other day said, whoa, I could take a  walk without leaving my chair. Absolutely, so again, you get sort of this hard  pressure against that area. These are really one of my favorite stools. 

They're called Hokie stools and H-O-K-K-I, I believe, or H-O-K-I, not sure if it's  two Ks or one, but that, again, has sort of this rounded bottom. So people are  sitting on something that allows for movement while they're doing something on  the floor, at the table, or whatever it may be. So just by stocking some of these  things can be really helpful to aid in movement of some kind. 

Again, these are more opportunities. We have Thera Putty, some things to  hold. And I went through a huge variety of those. 

Don't think, once again, you need to spend a lot of money on those hand  tools. Remember this one that was sewn by the fourth and fifth graders in that  church? Marble with a maze, washable. And again, there are these things  setting all over.

One of the things I love to do is go to conferences. So many vendors have these little fidgets out, so I always collect them. I grow my bucket when I get back to  school. 

But whatever that can take, whatever you have in place can be really, really  helpful. So again, as you look at those movement options, as you look at those  opportunities, giving choices, I think that that's just critical. Again, here are some of the unique things. 

Many times in a children or youth setting, there is natural movement. Many  times in a children and youth setting, you have that opportunity for people to  make some choices, to move around, that sort of a thing. Adults in church have  sometimes fewer choices. 

And sometimes also some interesting stories can happen. I'll never forget,  again, that impulsive individual, adult, just really had a difficult time navigating  church because of that impulsivity. And so one of the things that happened is  they would put out sign-up sheets, what do you want to be involved in this  year? And without taking the time to preview this man's life, he went and signed  up for nearly every single committee, opportunity, serving thing, and showed up  for none of them. 

Because once he finally tried to figure this out and then he was  embarrassed, and it's like, oh, I let people down again. So you have to, again,  figure this can be for both children and adults. Have some individuals, too, who  were getting in trouble as adults because the kids around them were watching  them play games on their phone during the service. 

And it's like, why can't we play games? Because Mr. So-and-so's playing  games. And so, again, you've got this difficult thing. I will say, however, smart  communities, once again, recognizing that there was an issue, went ahead and  said, okay, well, what does this person do well at? And found out that this  person was really gifted at stirring up people, exciting them to do things. 

The reason he signed up for so many things is that he was excited about all of  them. So what they ended up doing was pairing this puzzle piece, which, again,  previewing, attention, knowing how many things to say yes and no to was  difficult, but man, generating enthusiasm, being all in, being ability to  communicate with words was very strong. So they paired him up with somebody who was, again, word-wise would never stand in front of a microphone, but very  organized, very administrative.

And so they paired these two people up in the community, and together they  made quite the team. Okay, here comes your text. Guess what, you're making  an announcement tomorrow in church. Are you ready for that? They text back  and forth. 30 minutes before church. Okay, remember, it's your announcement  today. I believe it's scheduled for 10:10. Check in with a pastor before you get to church, or when you get to church.  

So again, this pairing, this pairing of gifts and putting people together made for  this really strong combo. And so this gentleman was free to use his  enthusiasm and his gifts for words while using the gifts of this administrator who  loved to be involved in those things but would never have been able to verbally  communicate that into a microphone. It was this wonderful blending of gifts. So  remember, this is not just about children. It's not just about youth. 

But it also could be part of an adult's life, and we need to watch into that and  make sure that we provided avenues for everyone to use his or her gifts. I will  tell one other story in relationship to ADHD, and that involved a youth group  member, again. This young man finally had had it with church and said, why do I have to do the same thing on the weekend that's so hard for me to do during the week? So it's already hard for me to manage school. 

Why are you throwing me into that same environment? And this kiddo was  strong enough that he could decide not to go to church, and his parents didn't  have all that much power anymore in this child's life, partly because of some  other wiring and neurotransmitter issues, I would dare imagine. But he ended up using that gift of technology, loved technology, and paired him up, again, with an older individual from the church, and they really mounted an effort to grow the  technology as part of the worship service, but also as part of the youth group  meetings. And so this individual was there, but very much serving with a gift  area and ignited a passion for church beyond what this youth group could  do, because he was invited in to use that gift. 

Church became one of his favorite places, because, again, he got to use his  green stuff there. So let's remember, movement, be understanding, all of those  things are true. But it, once again, comes back to we really need to get to know  people, we need to get to know the gifts and the things that they're passionate  about. 

Be really exciting. So I hope this has been helpful. Again, some strategies to  use, ways to think about it.

Please do not ever use those sticker chart things. Let's build that  understanding. Let's get people to understand best how they can come along  and use the gifts and support the areas of challenge of persons with ADHD in a  congregation. 



Modifié le: lundi 4 mai 2026, 09:08