How to Help Children With ADHD Study at Home

We all have our unique challenges at this time; no one can completely get rid of the stress that a pandemic brings. But parents of children with ADHD, in particular, have struggled with virtual learning – and may have abandoned it entirely when it all stopped this spring. Unfortunately, this “oh, who else cares” attitude that struck many parents around mid-April is not a state in which we can languish for the entire 2020-21 school year. Children make a need to learn, pandemic or not, worries or not, special needs or not.

And yet, parents are not educators . This is why teachers are great – they go to school to learn how to do this work, not only for children who are hardworking and focused, who always listen and keep their hands to themselves, but also for the other 99 percent of children. children too. And then when they learn how to do it, they practice it with a teacher who has actually done it before! And before you know it, a blessed event happens – they themselves experience. Along the way, they discover and develop strategies to reach all types of learners with endless combinations of traits and temperaments, as well as unique skills and challenges.

As, for example, children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). If your child has ADHD, chances are you’ve learned some great parenting strategies. However, being their full-time educational project manager is not something you might have been prepared for. If you find yourself in this situation anyway, there are several strategies you can try to help ease the stress and frustration that you and your child (and possibly the whole family) are experiencing.

First, acknowledge the struggle

Children who are struggling know that they are struggling. You will not do any harm by admitting it. In fact, you should talk openly and honestly with your children about their problems.

“It’s no use not talking about it,” says Trinia Kaufman, a former special education teacher and senior editorial research manager at Understanding , which offers resources to empower people who learn and think differently. “And there is no accusation or condemnation in this [conversation]. Everyone has their own problems, so you can say, “What we should do as a family or with our teachers is to figure out how we can solve these problems and make it easier for you.”

Kaufman says that by doing so, you let the child know that you are on his side, and you know that he is trying his best. And this is a great place to start.

Hone their specific needs

Every child, with ADHD or not, has their own set of challenges, be it getting organized, managing their time, or staying focused. They may be overwhelmed by the amount of work they have to do, they may be distracted, or simply not interested in a particular subject. If you don’t know exactly what their problems are – you just know there are problems – Kaufman suggests starting with a ” surveillance tracker .” Observing and tracking their behavior and difficulties can help you begin to notice signs or patterns associated with their struggles.

If your child has an IEP ( Individualized Education Program ) in school, this is also a good place to look for specific strategies that teachers have used in the classroom to help them succeed. But even if they don’t have an IEP, you can talk to their teacher to learn about strategies they found helpful that you can implement at home.

Limit distractions

Obviously, it’s easier said than done now. In an ideal pandemic world, you only have one (older) child to be in their quiet place to focus on their schoolwork. In fact, many of us share our workspace with partners and several children who work and study at the same time from home. (This is why my husband has group hangouts every Monday on Mondays from our bedroom rather than his favorite office, the dining table. Too many zooms, so little space.)

But Kaufman says there are a couple of small things parents can do to reduce, if not eliminate, distractions. First, use headphones when most appropriate, especially if multiple meetings are taking place in the same room. And second, turn them to face others and / or the wall. No one wantsto put Baby in a corner , but looking at a simple wall can be less distracting than looking at a bustling family center.

Set a schedule for them – with their input

Most children perform best when they have a regular schedule or routine to follow – and this is especially important for children with ADHD who are now homeschooling.

“But we can’t just schedule them and ask them to do it,” says Kaufman. “We need to have some flexibility so we can get their support.”

Sit down with a list of priorities and make a schedule together, giving them options when possible, such as deciding when to work on reading assignments and when on math.

And when you’re scheduling, remember to leave room for lots of breaks. If possible, start the day with physical activity – this will help mitigate things like impulsivity and hyperactivity. And then take more breaks throughout the day as needed, depending on their age or how much physical activity they personally need.

Look for small victories

We – and our children – are going through difficult and difficult times. Every day will not be successful; vice versa. But if you look closely, there will be tiny wins throughout the day. A good mark for the assignment or even for the completed assignment. Five extra minutes of math concentration than expected; noon, in which all the necessary equipment works; a fun new game that you came up with together during a break. Be aware of these points.

“Our brains are wired to focus on the negative,” says Kaufman. “So we really have to force ourselves to think, ‘What am I doing well? What is my child good at? “And then let them know where they did a good job so they can build on it.”