Saturday, April 4, 2020

What Is Tutor Time?

What Is Tutor Time?Why is it important to know the meaning of tutor time? Before answering this question, you should know that each and every time you enroll into a private school, you must provide money as payment for the tuition fee. That means you must be aware of what exactly tutor time is, so that you can prepare for it well enough.Tutor time means that you will be able to study in the designated time period for tutoring. You need to remember that the tutor, that is a tutor's staff, is part of the school and that your tuition fee covers the whole school budget. During this time, you will be required to do only one task. You can learn while watching your tutor, in which case you need to pay a certain amount of money as per the agreed time. The time must be at least 30 minutes or longer.In some private schools, there are also other types of tutors, that is, someone who teach the course, rather than a person who help you in your learning process. There may be a sort of a background check done for a tutor; in other words, the tutor can only teach you if he has actually completed his degree. So, in such cases, a person can help you but will charge you only a little amount of money as tuition fee, rather than teaching the whole class.In some private schools, the tutor's job will be to actually guide the students through the whole learning process. This can be the ultimate responsibility of the tutor, in terms of fee payment.Even in the course of a day time, you will have to remember to pay the tutor for his job. It is not very much, but in fact, in some private schools you will be given an allowance that can be used to pay the tutors. The student has to give the instructor an amount of money which the instructor will use to pay the tutors.If you are a good student, you can get away with paying more than the tutors. But you must know that the majority of the students, because of their poor grades, would not make it. The teacher might reprimand them and will also put them under examination. If you do not have money to pay the tutor, then the task of helping you in your learning process will be left to the aid of the parents, so that the whole thing will go on smoothly.Before choosing a private school, you must know what you are really looking for. If you are a good student, then you will be very successful in going through the tutoring sessions of the tutors.

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Three Legit Places to Find the Best Free Guitar Lessons

Three Legit Places to Find the Best Free Guitar Lessons Natalie Hagen Looking for free guitar lessons that actually work? If you want to learn the guitar, but aren’t sure where to start and don’t have a lot of money to spend you’re in luck! There are various methods of learning the guitar and many of them are free. Some free guitar lessons aren’t as beneficial and worthwhile as others, however, so it’s important to do your research beforehand. As a beginner, it’s crucial that you learn the correct techniques so that easy mistakes don’t become bad habits later on. Keep reading and we’ll break down three of the best places to find free guitar lessons so you can begin playing immediately. These resources are reputable and will give you the foundation you need to become an excellent guitar player. 3 Best Places to Find Free Guitar Lessons TakeLessons Live TakeLessons Live is a fantastic option for beginners to find free online guitar lessons. It offers live group classes that give you a solid foundation of guitar skills. You can sign up for whichever classes interest you, and learn techniques that will help you throughout your entire musical journey. The best part is that you have access to a live teacher so you can ask questions and get instant feedback. There are many options for dates and times of classes, so you can easily find one that works with your schedule. There are also multiple instructors to choose from. These online classes give you the benefits of a classroom setting, without ever having to leave your home. Plus, your first month is completely free so you can try out as many classes and teachers as you like. SEE ALSO: 5 Reasons to Learn Guitar Online YouTube With over a billion hours of video content, YouTube has something for every type of guitar student. Videos are pre-recorded so theyre accessible at all times and there’s no limit to how many you can watch, making them another excellent option for beginners. Here are a few channels where you can find free online guitar lessons, including our guitar lessons playlist above. 5 YouTube Channels with Free Online Guitar Lessons Justin Sandercoe   Justin has over 750 guitar lessons on his YouTube channel, and there is something for every level of guitar player. Guitareo   This channel has tons of lessons to get you started with the guitar, as well as more advanced topics such as how to play blues guitar or rhythm guitar. GuitarJamz   GuitarJamz helps you do exactly what it says: jam on the guitar. The videos start off with the basics and then apply what you’ve learned to well-known songs. Rock on Good People   This helpful channel teaches various guitar techniques and licks. Some interesting interviews will also help you stay motivated to continue your guitar journey. Andy Guitar   Andy has various courses that are perfect for beginners. They include everything from playing your first major chord to how to choose the right guitar for you. These are just a few of the top guitar channels on YouTube. There are many more to choose from, so find the one that works for you and your learning style. [Note: One common challenge with pre-recorded lessons is that there is not a live teacher to interact with, or ask questions. This can be difficult when you’re stuck on a difficult concept.] Local Music Stores Another option for guitarists is to visit a local music store. Many music stores offer free guitar lessons and workshops to their patrons. Stores such as Sam Ash and Guitar Center have monthly events at their various locations. These include everything from demonstrations on how to use the latest gear, to technique workshops, and more. Classes such as these are helpful to students because they can ask a teacher questions and work alongside other students. Find out if there’s a music store in your area and ask about the dates and times of classes they offer. Unfortunately, students in rural areas might not have access to a music store. If you’re in a similar situation, try going back to #1 on this list. Taking online guitar classes is an excellent alternative. Now you’re ready to get started with free guitar lessons. There are many benefits of playing the guitar. It helps reduce stress, improves mental health, and is just plain fun. Plus, free guitar lessons make learning the instrument that much sweeter. Whatever reason you have for learning the guitar, it will be well worth the effort. Whether you choose online guitar classes, YouTube, or a local music store, you won’t regret the decision to learn this popular and versatile instrument.   Need Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

Friday, March 6, 2020

3 Key Word Pairs You MUST Memorize in Spanish

3 Key Word Pairs You MUST Memorize in Spanish Sign up successful Let’s start with the first three most common distinctions in Spanish that don’t exist in English. What’s the difference between ser and estar? Why does it matter? While both these verbs translate in English as to be, they refer to different types of being. Ser refers to  permanent, stable, non-changing attributes,  such as your gender, personality qualities, where you’re from, what you do for a living. Estar, on the other hand, refers to time- and situation-dependent attributes, conditions, and states, such as emotions or behavior. Ser is also used with events. Interestingly, ser is used with time and estar is used when referring to death, revealing fascinating implications about how most Spanish-speaking cultures regard life and death, stemming for their proclivity toward belief in the after-life and the Spanish language’s Catholic legacy. Here is a useful example: When you use ser referring to boredom, you are saying, “He is boring,” (referring to a boring person) whereas when you use estar referring to boredom, it means “He is bored.” Because Spanish makes this distinction between these ways of being, there is no actual difference between the words bored and boring in Spanish, underscoring how important it is to learn these distinctions to boost your language skills and accurately convey what you mean. Similarly, if someone tends to be quiet across many contrasting situations, I would use ser, and if they are only being quiet now, I would use estar. Heres a great visual representation of the  difference between ser and estar: Now, practice which to use in the following contexts (dont  scroll down to the answers until you try the practice!): 1) It’s 11 o’clock. 2) I am from San Francisco. 3) I’m feeling happy about my new promotion. 4) The fly is dead. 5) Jim is tired. 6) I’m usually energetic but know I’m lethargic (note the two distinctions present here). Answer Key: 1) S 2) S 3) E 4) E 5) E 6) S, E Didnt score too well on the quiz? This video goes more into detail on the difference between ser and estar. Check it out for some additional pointers! What’s the difference between por and para? Why does it matter? While they both refer to the word ‘for’ in English, they are quite distinct. The general  distinction is that por tends to emphasize movement, exchange, process and motion, while para  emphasizes outcomes, deadlines, goals, results and/or destination. Aside from referring to ‘for,’ in many situations, por  can also mean ‘by’ or ‘through’ and para often means ‘in order to.’ Practice which to use in the following contexts (again, dont scroll down until youre ready!): 1) I work to earn a living for my family. 2) The river passes through the valley. 3) The book was by Pablo Neruda. 4) I work for Juan Sanchez. 5) I paid $4 for the soup. 6) Thanks for playing. 7) For example 8) I’ll bring tomato for the party. Answer Key: 1) Para 2) Por 3) Por 4) Para 5) Por 6) Por 7) Por 8) Para What’s the difference between saber and conocer? Why does it matter? Saber and conocer both mean ‘to know’ in English, but again they’re strikingly different types of knowing. Saber  is more about book knowledge, memorization, and procedural skills whereas conocer  is about familiarity, ‘knowing of’ things, and when you meet someone and/or know them. Practice which to use in the following contexts: 1) I know Mr. Big Boss. 2) I know the lyrics to that song perfectly. 3) I know how to cook. 4) I know that city. Answer Key: 1) C 2) S 3) S 4) C Need more help distinguishing between saber and conocer? This quick video lesson helps clear up a lot of the confusion. Did this article help you grasp word pairs better? A Spanish tutor  can help you master these key differences even more. Dont have a tutor yet? Search for a Spanish tutor near you. Post Author:  Jason N. Jason N. tutors in English and Spanish in Fairfax, CA.  He majored in Spanish at UC Davis, lived in Mexico for 3 years, and studied Spanish Literature at the University of Costa Rica. Learn more about Jason here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

Bad Boss Sooner or Later We All Have Them - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Bad Boss â€" Sooner or Later We All Have Them - Introvert Whisperer Bad Boss â€" Sooner or Later We All Have Them I’ll admit right up front: I’m here to ask you to share any Bad Boss stories you might have. I’ve heard several and have had my own. In my case, my first Bad Boss happened early. In fact, it was the second job I held while in high school. The place I worked was the best fabric store in my city. As a seamstress myself, getting a job there seemed like nirvana â€" until I actually worked there. The woman who owned the store apparently was legendary throughout the city as being a Bad Boss.  In fact, I think the term for her was an “Old Battle Ax.” As part of my training, she lectured me on how I was there to do two things: sell her merchandise, and make the store attractive so people would want to buy her merchandise. The rules were: Never speak to other employees If I had a question, she was the only one qualified to answer If she was absent, there were only 2 people I could seek out for answers. I obediently complied. In my year there, I learned to “fly under the radar.” You didn’t want her to notice you â€" ever. I had seen a person quit after being there for only an hour. I had seen her torment a fellow employee, a woman my mother’s age, to the point that the woman was crying, as she was measuring out fabric for a customer. The Bad Boss stood there, spitting in my co-workers face, yelling at the top of her lungs all while the customer (who was cringing and cowering herself) had to watch. That was only one episode in a job that witnessed daily doses of outrageous behavior from the boss. I had my own encounter with her. One evening as she entered the store, she saw me speaking with a customer. She thought I was speaking with another employee â€" a breach of a cardinal rule in her mind. A few minutes later, after she had dropped off her stuff and the customer left, she approached me yelling and shaking her fist. I had no idea what had set her off, so I asked. It infuriated her more. I explained I was talking to a customer, which made her even angrier. She yelled “Do you think I’m stupid?”  Well, I answered her: “No, I just think you are mistaken.”  She was stunned to silence, which I took as a sign the conversation was finished â€" but apparently it wasn’t.  I had started to walk away when she grabbed me from behind, spun me around and began a high-pitched tirade. When she finally stopped long enough to suck in air, I brushed her hands off and told her “You don’t have permission to touch me or yell at me. I work hard for you but I draw the line there.”  I walked away but this time, dead silence. She didn’t fire me and we kept a polite distance until I went away to college. Meanwhile, she kept doing what had made her my town’s worst boss. So there you go. That’s my first Bad Boss. I have more stories, but I’d like to hear yours. Either post yours below. Image: Photobucket Go to top Power-Influence-Office Politics: it comes down to your Strategic Relationships and understanding of how you build each one of these elements. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my video that outlines all of this and meaningful actions you can take today! Start watching now: CLICK HERE Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleash your professional potential.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Chicago

Chicago Only in Chicago is a Tommy Gun Glamorous ChaptersChicago: PrologueChicago, the MusicalProduction NotesProductions, Revivals and AwardsSeen by most as a sardonic look at life in the Roaring Twenties in Chicago, possibly attempting to immortalise the era of Al Capone, the American musical Chicago… wasn’t meant to be a bit of musical theater at all.In fact, what we know today as a Tony Award-winning stage show tells a story apart from the singing and dancing and the lines crafted so carefully by its playwright.Maurine Dallas-Watkins, a reporter for the Chicago Tribune newspaper, was assigned to report on cases litigated in court.Was she appalled, amused or astounded at the people brought up on charges of murder, rape and theft? Was she most outraged at crimes committed by women â€" especially murder, in a town where murder was so commonplace?Whatever her personal opinions were, she saw fit to weave the entire story into a play which met with international success in 1926. A little more than a decade later, the show was mad e into a film, reaching audiences across the US.Remember, at this point, Chicago is still not a musical; it is a cleverly-crafted play.Superprof now gives you the 411 (the information) on Velma, Roxie and Billy Flynn, along with Mama Morton and the poor slob, Amos, and how they all came to be on stage together. TraceySinging Teacher 4.92 (13) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PortiaSinging Teacher 4.91 (11) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolaSinging Teacher 5.00 (11) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JazzSinging Teacher 5.00 (6) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PerrineSinging Teacher 5.00 (3) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TiemSinging Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TomSinging Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MiriamSinging Teacher 5.00 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsChicago: Prologue The playhouse version of Chicago is far more tame than the musical! Source: Wikipedia Credit: Cheryl Sue DolbyMs Watkins certainly meant for her work to be satirical but it was based on facts.Beulah Annan, accused of the murder of Harry Halstedt, listened to the same foxtrot record for two hours before calling her husband in a breathless panic to say she had killed a man.Her husband, Albert, cleaned out his bank account to pay for her defence.Imagine how he must have felt when she dumped him the day after her acquittal!Belva Gaertner was a cabaret singer accused of murdering a man named Walter Law.Two policemen witnessed her getting into her vehicle; shortly afterwards, they heard a gun go off twice.Mr Law was found dead in the driver's seat, along with a bottle of gin and a gun.By no stretch of the imagination could any of these stories be the cause for merriment and glee, especially remembering the status of women a century ago.They had just won the right to vote but were still pre tty much house-bound; a woman on her own was generally treated as a less-than-reputable character and was considered ‘up for grabs’ - with said grabbing often being her body parts.Did you know? A similar storyline plays out in The Lion King… believe it or not!In short, the Roaring Twenties was still very much a time when what men said went and women were seldom permitted a voice.You might argue that that sword cuts both ways.Women were often seen as frail and weak, in no way capable of committing murder; a perception that no doubt helped their defence.In a sense, the social climate of the day makes Chicago an even more remarkable story.Not only was there murder to report on â€" murders committed no doubt by women as well as men, but it was a young woman from the Kentucky countryside who reported on them.Maurine Dallas-Watkins was a woman much ahead of her time.She attended Butler University in Indiana before continuing her education at Radcliffe, an exclusive women’s univers ity in Massachusetts. She then left Radcliffe and moved to Chicago, working for a time in advertising before landing the news reporter job.It’s a wonder she didn’t also write a script for Mad Men!In short, her life was varied and ever-changing; after the fame she garnered from Chicago, she went to Hollywood and wrote screenplays for several successful films… all in a time when women were generally not seen as equal and a woman on her own was considered fair game.Through shrewd investing and careful spending, along with royalties from her ever-popular Chicago, she ended up independently wealthy.So, when Bob Fosse, the Broadway producer, asked permission to make Chicago into a Broadway musical, she demurred. Besides the fact that she had no need for money, the reason she refused to sell the show’s rights might surprise you…Interviewing both women at length before their trials, she came to believe that they were both guilty but, through her writing â€" intended to be bitingly caustic, she believes she inadvertently swayed the public to sympathy for the murderesses.Maurine Dallas-Watkins, believing she was the reason those two women escaped justice, could not bear the idea of giving them any more exposure.It was only after her death in 1969 that her estate negotiated the sale of the script.Once it landed in Mr Fosse’s hands, he immediately turned it over to the powerhouse composers Kander and Ebb, who soon had the show ready for its off-Broadway run.Hush now! The curtain is about to go up!Don’t forget to preview one of the most enduring theatrical ventures: Les Miserables... Chicago enjoyed a long run at New York's Ambassador Theatre Source: Wikipedia Credit: OptimumPXChicago, the MusicalIndeed, the story centres around the two women and their deeds.Roxie is brought into the prison under the predatory gaze of one Velma Kelly, currently the most glamorous prisoner on the cell block. She worries that her star treatment will now be directed to the block’s newest murderess.She was soon proven right. Lawyer Billy Flynn looks right past her to the latest waif in prison garb, much to Velma’s distress.Roxie is rude and vulgar; pretty, yes, but what kind of witness would she make?It turns out, quite an inventive one. Although she has trouble learning her lines â€" Billy worked hard to coach her on her appearance and language, there was no end to her deviousness.Lawyer Billy’s interest in representing Roxie wanes in direct proportion to Amos’ (Roxie’s husband) ability to pay his fees. It didn’t hurt that another high-profile murderess had just been bro ught into the cell block â€" and she was demonstrably rich!Billy, not caring about anything but money, is brought sharply back into focus by Roxie’s assertion that she is pregnant. He sees headlines praising his efforts at earning justice for the young mother-to-be…Meanwhile, Roxie is making other plans.Knowing that she can’t rely on anyone but herself, she and Velma strike a deal. They will make the most of their fame together even though they despise one another.And so the story goes, with All that Jazz.Get on board with your creative team: how would Roxie have fared with The Phantom of the Opera?Production NotesIn a lot of ways, Chicago made audiences uncomfortable; it was a garish display of American celebrity culture wherein the actors spoke directly to the audience â€" breaching the so-called fourth wall.This musical comedy featured songs that were asides to the audience, making theatregoers feel like they were consorting with criminals.For that reason and for its bawdin ess â€" the Cell Block Tango alone was seen as outré and distasteful; kinky, even. Patrons hesitated to buy tickets.Especially as A Chorus Line premiered in the same year and swept the awards ceremonies.The Broadway production Chicago seemed doomed, especially when the actress playing Roxie accidentally swallowed a feather and had to have emergency surgery.Just as the artistic director and music director were going to throw in the towel, Liza Minnelli offered to fill in for Roxie; suddenly, you couldn’t find tickets for Chicago anywhere!And then, Ann Reinking reworked the choreography so that it was less vaudeville and more in keeping with other Bob Fosse Broadway shows.Mr Cellophane would have approved.Can you think of two more disparate shows than Chicago and Cats? The original cast poster was a bit more racy than 1970s America was ready for! Source: WikipediaProductions, Revivals and AwardsIn spite of all of the strange, coincidental happenings mentioned above, the Broadway show closed after a respectable 936 performances and debuted almost two years later, in London on the Cambridge musical theatre stage.There, it entertained audiences for about 600 performances, earning the Best Actor and Best Actress Olivier awards.  It was also nominated for Best Musical.Do you know other popular musicals that won awards in that category?It then made its way around the world, landing back on Broadway for a revival in 1996. By that time, it was a well-polished show; it went on to win six Tony Awards â€" a record that stood unbroken until 2008.Chicago still holds the record for longest-running revival on Broadway; its success today is due, at least in part, to changing social values in the US.After the 1995 OJ Simpson trial â€" a real-life celebrity crime, A merican audiences were more enthusiastic about a bit of vaudevillian dancing and Razzle Dazzle.The proof of that assertion is found in the awards Chicago has earned.The original Broadway show (1975) garnered a lot of nominations but only one win: a Drama Desk Award for Best Lighting. Conversely, the 1997 revival swept both the Tony and Drama Desk awards ceremonies!As Broadway musicals go, Chicago is no My Fair Lady â€" and not even in the same stratosphere as Beauty and the Beast.  Those characters are some of the most sympathetic in Broadway history, don’t you think?Still, you can’t help but care, at least a little bit, for Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, even as you chuckle uneasily about the Matron (splendidly played by Queen Latifah in the film version!).Those women were a product of their time, making the best of what they had, much like Oliver Twist did in his time.If the story behind Chicago the musical is as gripping as the music and lyrics and story the show presents… now you know why!Now discover the show everyone is talking about: Hamilton

Learning Specialist - Isnt that just a tutor

Learning Specialist - Isn’t that just a tutor Improving Academic Performance Tutors have existed for as long as man. Elders helping the younger generation learn the skill sets necessary to survive in their environment. Of course, early tutoring focused more on gathering food and creating shelter than on memorizing math tables. Fast forward to our test driven and memorization based school curriculum. Students have to absorb and repeat mountains of information on a regular basis. They have to work quickly, efficiently, and a strong competitive sense emerges in most classrooms from an early age. Most parents feel their children need to keep up, and some are concerned with even “Average” performance. As a result, Americans spend billions of dollars each year for tutoring support for their children. A tutor is a very useful tool for many students. Tutors help their pupils learn facts, study for tests, and become more fluent and efficient with a range of academic tasks. But what happens when those academic deficiencies are driven by difficulties processing information? Does the tutoring work? My clinical experience would indicate that often it does not. When students come to Cognitive Solutions Learning Center in Chicago, many are initially assessed to better understand their processing and functioning through a comprehensive evaluation. Having information about how the brain processes information is highly useful when planning how to best help a student remediate areas of processing difficulty. Specialized interventions can be designed which are aimed at developing a student’s underlying cognitive and processing deficiencies. This makes the process of tutoring much more targeted and effective. Tutors come in all shapes and sizes, with a wide variance in education, background, and experience. They range from high-school and college students looking to make some extra money to retired teachers who love helping children, and everywhere in between. How well a tutor can help a student often depends on their experience and their ability to develop a strong rapport. But what they can do is often limited. Without understanding of and intervention with underlying processing deficiencies, many students will not make the expected levels of progress they are working so hard to gain. This frequently leads to frustration on the part of the student, the tutor, and the teachers and parents. A learning specialist is someone who typically possesses a minimum of a Master’s Degree in a special education related field. The have extensive experience reading and interpreting psychoeducational and neuropsychological evaluations, and are able to use these documents to create intensive and effective remediation programs. Many work as special education teachers in the school system, and develop private interventions for students in after-school hours. Learning specialists work to strengthen underlying brain processing, at the same time helping the student develop a strong academic skill base. A student who has difficulty reading will often begin work with a tutor. They will typically work to develop stronger fluency, decoding, and compression skills. But what if the student isn’t making progress in this work? What if all the repetition and multi-sensory teaching are not working? That is where an understanding of processing can better assist a learning specialist in their work. Many students who struggle to read have some form difficulty with their auditory, visual, or executive processing systems. A learning specialist will work to develop reading skills similar in a manner similar to a tutor, however they will also design and implement a targeted intervention to address any underlying processing deficiencies. This might include auditory processing work, expressive or receptive language development, visual tracking and visual motor work, or executive skills development. Strengthening how the brain processes information while at the same time developing academic skills m akes for a powerful and effective remediation program. The same processing difficulties can be true for students with a range of learning disabilities, including dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia. Often times, difficulties processing information through one of the systems mentioned is a strong underlying factor in their struggles to learn. Students diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD) often have executive deficiencies that can be strengthened through targeted work with a learning specialist. While tutoring is beneficial for many students who simply require some extra practice or “brush up” on skills, it is often ineffective for students who struggle to develop learning skills. These students frequently see far better outcomes when their academic interventions are designed more broadly to target and strengthen areas of their brain that aren’t properly processing the world around them. At Cognitive Solutions, many students come to us after multiple unsuccessful attempts at tutoring. Our learning specialists create highly individualized remediation plans, and work with students to strengthen academic functioning, processing capacities, and self-esteem. For more information on Cognitive Solutions Learning Center in Chicago, please feel free to visit us online at www.helpforld.com.

Screen Use after Bedtime and ADHD

Screen Use after Bedtime and ADHD With phones, tablets, and video game consoles accessible to kids just about any time and anywhere, setting limits around screen time is more challenging than ever. When ADHD is added into the mix, setting screen time limits becomes even harder. Kids and teens with ADHD are more likely to use screens excessively, become argumentative when limits are put into place, and have a harder time sticking to the limits and resisting the impulse to use their devices when theyre supposed to be doing other things. While research shows that screen time and video games dont cause ADHD, under certain circumstances, too much screen time does make ADHD symptoms worse. The biggest culprit for many kids and teens with ADHD is sacrificing sleep to get more screen time! Sleep is essential for regulating emotions, staying focused, and making good decisions. So, when a child or teen has ADHD, their ADHD symptoms are much worse when they arent sleeping enough. Unfortunately, having ADHD can make getting a good nights sleep a struggle. In fact, studies show that up to 70% of kids and teens with ADHD have ongoing sleep problems. One of the biggest culprits influencing sleep problems among kids with ADHD is screen time. Theres a great deal of research showing that using screens right before bed leads to poorer sleep in kids and teens with and without ADHD. But even more problematic for many kids with ADHD is the time they spend on screens after bedtime, when they should be sleeping instead. In a recent study of nighttime media use, researchers surveyed 81 teens with ADHD about their sleep habits and media use after 9pm.1 Study results showed that almost all participants had a cell phone in their room, and 50% also had other devices (e.g. tablet, TV). 80% of the participants reported spending more than two hours using their devices after 9pm. Screen time after 9pm was associated with more sleep problems and more symptoms of anxiety and depression in teens with ADHD. And the majority of the teens in the study were getting far less than the recommended number of hours of sleep each night. What can parents do to help limit screen use after bedtime? Well, prevention is really the only effective strategy. After all, parents cannot physically monitor their child or teens screen time when they are asleep themselves. In practice, the most effective strategies that Ive seen work are keeping all digital devices out of the child or teens room (including a television), using cell phone monitoring and control tools to restrict use after the bedtime hour, turning off household (or teen) internet access after bedtime, and using a device monitoring app to check the childs usage and ensure that they are in fact sticking to the screen limits. The biggest challenge to using these strategies at home comes from the kids and teens. Most will complain (convincingly!) that they cannot fall asleep if they are not using their device in some way they will say that they need to watch TV or videos to fall asleep, need to listen to music on their device, or need to use a white noise app on their phone or tablet. Parents need to resist giving in and look for alternative solutions to help their child or teen fall asleep. For example, a white noise machine can be purchased to replace a white noise app. A simple screen-free Mp3 player can be used to replace music on a phone or tablet. Books can be used in place of videos if they need something to quiet their mind before bed. Your child or teen isnt going to be enthusiastic about any of these alternatives, because what they really want is to have their device back! But the bedtime limits really are in the best interest of the child or teen, and their disappointment is a small price to pa y for better sleep, better ADHD symptom management, and potentially fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression. If parents are able to stick to the limits, after a while, their child or teen will adjust to their new routine, the complaints will die down, and they should be sleeping better. If sleep problems persist, consider talking to your childs pediatrician. There are many ways to treat sleep problems, and the pediatrician will help you find the right solution. 1Becker, S.P. Lienesch, J.A. (2018). Nighttime media use in adolescents with ADHD: links to sleep problems and internalizing symptoms. Sleep Medicine, 51, 171-178. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.