Class Clown

Everyone can remember a class clown or two from their school years. You may even know an adult version.

Class clowns are often kids with ADHD who use humor as a defensive device. The kid with poor grades and awkward social skills could quite easily find himself on the fringes of the classroom when it comes to popularity.

Being the class clown, providing entertainment to the class, can make him more likable. Awkward or non-existent social skills become less important, because the child is always perceived as the silly clown, looking for another laugh.

Like a lot of clowns, though, the class clown might be laughing on the outside but crying on the inside.

All kids know that grades are important. The ones who shrug them off as no big deal do so because they have trouble earning good grades. Pretending not to care seems to make it hurt less.

If you have a class clown, you need to take some action:

If you haven’t already, consider testing for ADHD and/or learning disabilities.

Consider medication as an option. There are many ADHD medications available; it takes trial and error to find the right one and the right dose.

If you decide not to medicate, you will have to be more vigilant when it comes to things like diet, sleep habits, and exercise. Some people do respond to treating ADHD naturally, but it does take some work.

Consider tutoring and extra help in order to reinforce learning.

Work with the teacher to establish proper behavior in the classroom. Dr. Ruth A. Peters recommends a simple system. Each day, the teacher tapes a 3 x 5 card with 5 stars on it to the child’s desk. At any time of the day, if behavior is not under control, the teacher will walk by quietly and cross off one star.

Dr. Peters suggests that if the behavior occurs after a period of diligent work, to let the child keep the star.

At the end of the day, the teacher initials the card and sends it home with the child. If there is at least one star remaining on the card, the day should be counted as a success. A card with no stars means a loss of a privilege for a day.

According to Dr. Peters, this method can be very effective in maintaining good behavior. After two weeks of good behavior, step the card down to 4 stars. Continue on in this manner until there is only one star on the card or the system is no longer needed.

Above all, let your child know that while it’s OK to be appreciated for your sense of humor, it shouldn’t come at a personal cost.