Essays on Children with ADHD

To help ADHD children to adapt to surrounding world, relaxation, positive imagery, attention games and activities for integration of mind and body are recommended. “Eagle-Eyed Traveler” combines all these activities: children will have a set of positive and captivating pictures, they will train their attention on answering questions related to these pictures, and will move the figures along the path to reach the treasure (motor activity). The game is quite relaxing since it does not pose any stress, but rather entertains the kids, thus allowing to help them focus attention in a friendly and positive atmosphere. Team game can make the process of learning even more effective, because it will help the children to communicate with each other.

There are 18 national organizations and many more state educational and nonprofit organizations aimed specifically at helping ADHD children. These organizations are our primary customers. Two more target groups are teachers and parents of ADHD children. We believe that the new game will make the process of learning more fascinating and involving for ADHD kids.
Visual appeal

One of main features of our project is its visual appeal to ADHD children. The game will be designed to match three age groups: 4-6 years old, 6-8 years old, and 8-10 years old. The game board is designed to be attractive to all of these groups; it will contain two paths for the traveler, passing through hills, valleys, forests, rivers, mountains and deserts (parts of scenery and picturesque photos will be depicted on the board). In the center, there will be an island with a shining box of treasures, and a band of pirates guarding it. The kid will “defeat” the pirates by answering the questions of the cards correctly. This game might require the help of adults for younger age groups, but it is a common issue for ADHD children, and at the first stages parents will have to help them anyway.

There will be sets of 100 double-sided cards for every age group, with questions printed on the back side of the cards. For 4-6 years old, the questions will be expressed as drawings with question marks, and the kid’s goal will be to explain what is hidden under the question mark. For 6-8 year-olds, the questions will be formulated simply and in a humorous way. For 8-10 year-olds, the questions will get more tricky and will require more attention. The content of the cards will include funny photos, artwork and comic photos showing environments common to children of the appropriate age group. The number and complexity of details will also be chosen according to the age groups. The box containing the game will show the images of pirates chasing the treasure and the courageous Engle-Eyed Traveler defeating them.

Advertising pictures will show the kids playing the game, with “Eureka!” exclamations or looking at the pictures with happiness. Sets of pictures showing the kids defeat the pirates and having an eagle on their hand (analogy with eagle-eyed traveler) will enhance the atmosphere of adventure associated with the game. For commercial purpose, booklets containing smaller pictures of ADHD kids looking at the cards with estimated budget for classroom and individual use will be developed.

Procedures
The scope of the project consists of several objectives:
Objective 1: develop a working model of the game “Eagle-Eyed Traveler”
Activities:
 Select visual material for the learning cards
 Develop sketches of the game design (board, cards, game box)
 Create three sets of 100 cards for three age groups
 Create game box with captivating design
 Create 30 copies of the game (for beta-testing purposes)
Objective 2: implement a beta test of the new game
Activities:
Select 10 volunteers for each age group (possible by contacting parents of ADHD children through Internet and newspapers)
 Provide the game for the beta test
 Analyze the opinions of children and parents
 Make appropriate adjustments
 Show the renewed version to the volunteers
 Take photos of the volunteers for the promotional campaign
 Analyze the dynamics of memory and attention of volunteers
Objective 3: develop promotional materials for the game
Activities:
 Process the photos of volunteer kids
 Create promotional leaflets
 Create promotional booklets
 Create an audio podcast with the volunteers on their experience with the game
Objective 4: manufacture 12,000 samples of the game
Activities:
 Select the most cost-efficient provider
 Discuss partly delay of payment for a period of 6 months
 Order 12,000 samples from this provider
Objective 5: distribute the game
Activities:
 Launch an advertising campaign
 Contact educational and nonprofit organizations aimed at helping ADHD children
 Contact schools and individual teachers working with ADHD children
 Develop a message for parents of ADHD children
The time frames of these objectives are listed in Table 1.
Objective 1 45 days (starts immediate after the beginning of the project)
Objective 2 30 days (starts after Objective 1)
Objective 3 15 days (starts after Objective 2)
Objective 4 30 days (starts after Objective 2)
Objective 5 15 days (starts after Objective 3)
Table 1. Time frames for the objectives
Qualifications
There are 4 positions: researcher, writer, layout designer and devil’s advocate. The responsibility of the writer is to craft and post procedural sections, and to incorporate teem feedback. Researcher is expected to analyze the whole scope of the project and ensure that all critical issues are considered. Layout designer is responsible for creating the project’s scheme and main elements. Devil’s advocate has to ensure that the proposal covers all possible issues and legally secure these.
Project Budget
According to the estimated project budget, the final sale price of the game is expected to be $48.50, which is significantly lower than pricing for similar learning games. Average price for board learning games with likely learning effect is between $55-$80, and the quality of the games for $80 is comparable or lower than the expected effect of “Eagle-Eyed Traveler”. Moreover, if it would be possible to find donators for the game manufacturing processes (for printing and laminating cards in particular), it would be possible to lower the costs by 40-50%. This will make the game even more affordable for parents as well as for educational institutions. Donations and investments of the sponsors are comparable in the project’s budget. Detailed budget is presented in Table 2.
Item Payable Man-hours Cost Quantity Amount
Professional services
Game layout development (donated) 500 $65 $32,500
Game design (donated) 2000 $65 $130,000
Selection/creation of graphic material (donated) 2000 $65 $130,000
Game box design (donated) 500 $65 $32,500
Creation of 30 copies of the game (donated) 500 $65 $32,500
Selection of volunteers (donated) 50 $30 $1,500
Creation of promotional materials (donated) 1000 $65 $65,000
Analysis of volunteers’ results (donated) 50 $40 $2,000
Promotion $7,000
SUBTOTAL REQUIRED $7,000
SUBTOTAL DONATED $426,000
SUBTOTAL $433,000
Materials
Cardboard box $6 12000 $72,000
Paint (for box and board) $13 15 $195
Cards $0.02 3600000 $72,000.00
Board $2.50 12000 $30,000.00
Paint and lamination for cards $0.07 3600000 $252,000.00
Large-scale game manufacturing $0.85 12000 $10,200.00
SUBTOTAL REQUIRED $436,395.00
SUBTOTAL DONATED $0.00
SUBTOTAL $436,395.00
TOTALS REQUIRED $443,395.00
TOTALS DONATED $426,000.00
TOTALS $869,395.00
Cost of 1 sample of the game $36.95
Price of 1 sample of the game $40.64
Distribution costs (10%) $44.71
Sales tax (8.5%) $48.50
Table 2. Itemized budget for the project
Notes:
 Graphic designer average pay rate: $65 per hour
 Average price of software : $75-$350
 Average price of a board game: $55-$80 ($40-$55 ”“ games for smaller kids with very simple design and low learning importance)
 Average price of a square meter of wooden board material: $10