Many parents have raised the question, “How can I help my child or teenager with ADHD transition back into school?”
Here are six tips that parents in our network find most useful:
- Review your child’s IEP (Individualized Education Plan). This is a resource that is available to students with a formal diagnosis of ADHD to help them meet their educational needs. This plan better tailors the learning experience to your child by offering things like preferential seating, oral and written instructions, modified tests, extended time on tests, and smaller test environments.
- Get organized together. Many parents have found that creating a daily schedule for their child to follow has helped enormously. Children with ADHD tend to do better with a consistent routine. It may take some time to get back into a routine, but structure actually helps kids with ADHD use their symptoms to their advantage, and it’s easier on parents too.
- Limit distractions. Attention is one of the main challenges of a child with ADHD. Try not to seat them close to doors or windows, also try to limit other distractions in the room as much as possible.
- Break big tasks into smaller ones. A checklist is great for them to know what needs to be done. Even if the checklist is simple, it provides a focal point for attention.
- Breaks! Children with ADHD struggle with focusing on one thing for a long period of time. Build breaks into your schedule/routine. If your child is focusing on homework, take a break and move about. If your child is doing a household chore, it may help to take a break and do something quiet or relaxing.
- Quality time. Spending quality time with your kids will be one of the best things you can do to support them.
Would you like to determine if your child has ADHD, and gain additional resources and help?
We make ADHD assessments easy. Our online platform allows adults and children to be evaluated from the comfort of home with instant 24/7 access, no referrals, and minimal cost. Our assessment also includes screening for anxiety and depression. The results, provided by a doctorate-level psychologist, are accepted by doctors, schools, and employers across the country.
