Helping an ADHD Child Cope with School
This Fall has been challenging for many students returning to school – school looks different. Different is hard for anyone, different is unknown. For children, this often can be scarier than for adults; for children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) even more so.
Every individual with ADHD has a different set of struggles and will need different strategies, what I offer here are the starting points for anyone with ADHD; they are not the only tools, they will not address every situation, but they are a starting point. For individuals with ADHD, the number one tool to manage the impacts is routine. This year will be an all-new, possible shifting and changing, routine which will be very challenging for those with ADHD. Because of this doubled up challenge, it will be vital to take several steps to create a structure of supports:
1. First, plan and create a routine for everything you can control.
Make sure weekends are planned and that the plan is communicated and clear to the child. Plan weeknight dinner to be the same time every day, breakfast at the same time, make everything you can as predictable as possible. The more you have planned, the easier the outliers are.
2. Be in communication with your child’s teacher.
Teachers may not always have all the information as schools, school boards, and Governments may not have communicated everything yet, but the more you can find out in advance and plan for the better. Teachers are likely to be just as frustrated as you with the unknowns, have grace for them while making your requests. Most teachers will do their best to provide supports they know will help their students succeed.
3. Post schedules, chores, and homework list somewhere central where everyone can see it and refer to it.
Making sure these are in a prominent place in the house means nothing is a secret, and therefore harder to be a surprise (something that happens regularly to people with ADHD, even with this method). Putting it on a calendar and a list makes it easier for the child to begin to take ownership of the tasks (in an age-appropriate way). Writing everything on a calendar makes it easy to see when a routine might change.
4. Create a plan with your child around how to handle the change and flux of this year.
Talk with them about how this year is different and who you are planning to help and support them. This conversation not only gives your child permission to ask for help; it also prepares them for you, asking if they need help, which can reduce conflict in those moments.
Remembering that the symptoms we all see in those who have ADHD – the fidgeting, impulsiveness, high energy, talkativeness – these are only the tip of the iceberg. ADHD is an executive function disorder; planning, complex problem solving, temporal reasoning (time management, awareness of time, as well as the ability to forecast time required) are all examples of executive function. People with ADHD struggle with all these things, often in silence, and right now, these executive functioning skills are what we all are using to pick our way forward through a continually changing social environment.
If you want help personalizing these strategies, or need more support, finding a professional who specializes in supporting those impacted by ADHD can help in moving your family forward.
Graham Caesar, MA, CCC, RCC, is the author of this article and he specializes in the impact of ADHD on individuals, families, and parents, as well as many other areas. If you would like help in this area click here to get in contact with us, and we will set up an appointment for you.