Has your child always had a hard time concentrating in school? Are they finding it more and more difficult to sit at a desk and learn, especially when they’re disinterested in the subject? If so, then you should learn how to help a child with ADHD in school.
Some parents believe it’s all on them to provide support for their child. Others believe that therapy is the only way to assist ADHD patients. The truth is that it’s a little of both.
See below for an in-depth guide on how to help a child with ADHD and help them have success in school.
What Is ADHD?
To understand how you can help your child with ADHD succeed in school, you have to have a better understanding.
ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It can affect your child’s ability to remember, concentrate, communicate, and gain self-confidence.
As the name would imply, the child is also hyperactive and has trouble focusing on subjects that they don’t find an immediate interest in. It’s a condition that they’ll have for the rest of their lives.
Fortunately, there are several ways you can help them adjust to their ADHD and, one day, turn it into an advantage. Once a child learns more about their ADHD, several benefits can come from it.
Often, the best help comes in the form of talk therapy, support, and medication (if necessary). You and your child’s therapist can provide them with the direction along the way.
How to Help a Child With ADHD in School
Perhaps your child recently developed ADHD symptoms. Perhaps they’ve had the symptoms for a while, but you now see that they need psychological assistance to figure things out.
Whatever the case might be, there are many ways you can help them. See below for a few exercises that we recommend for parents.
Stay in Communication With Teachers
School teachers have a passion for helping children of all different ages, backgrounds, and learning abilities. However, they’re also tasked with the overall development of the class, not just one particular student.
If you take the time to communicate your child’s ADHD with the teacher, they can offer more one-on-one assistance. Every ADHD child is different, so be sure to tell them about your son or daughter’s tendencies and struggles.
For example, if your child has difficulty focusing while taking a test, then the teacher can make alternative arrangements for them such as letting them sit in an empty classroom or taking the test after regular school hours to limit distractions.
The teacher can also let you know what they’re noticing from your child. You can take this feedback back to your child’s psychologist to help move things forwards as well.
Invest in Psychological Assessment and Therapy
For your child to thrive, they’ll need professional support. They need direction from someone that has a deep understanding of ADHD and how it works.
The best thing to do is to put your child through a psychological assessment. This can help you pinpoint what your child is struggling with the most, and help you get the professional help that they need from a trained psychologist.
The assessment might also reveal other academic difficulties that you weren’t previously aware of. For example, your child might be dealing with low self-esteem, depression, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), all of which play a factor in their learning ability.
Once you understand your child’s biggest needs, you can put a plan in place. Your child’s psychologist can also give you direction on how to assist your child with homework, extracurricular activities, medication, and so forth.
Manage Their Hyperactivity
There are many times where this might be easier said than done. Though it might not seem like it, there are many ways you can help control your child’s hyperactivity.
The most important thing is to regulate time for movement. Oftentimes, ADHD children get too much screen time which limits their movement. They then start to feel “bottled up” and frustrated when forced to sit down and participate in schoolwork.
Another great way to manage hyperactivity is by getting your child involved in sports. This can help them have a release point each day. It can also help them learn how to have more confidence, work with others, form friendships, and set collective goals.
Control Expectations
Too many parents feel that their child is underperforming if their grade reports don’t show straight A’s. However, as a parent of an ADHD child, you need to have more perspective.
Your child is dealing with more complications than others in their class. They’re learning how to overcome daily obstacles and do the best they can to focus, learn, and apply their knowledge.
Communicate your expectations with your child. Help them set goals for themselves to give them something to obtain.
What grades are you expecting them to get in school? What are the rules they need to follow in the classroom? What rules do you have at home for doing schoolwork and having extracurricular activities?
How to Help a Child With ADHD in School: Learn With Them
The most important thing to remember about how to help a child with ADHD in school is that it’s a learning experience for everyone involved. Try to find avenues for helping your child, then capitalizing on them.
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