Back to School 2024
Believe it or not, summer 2024 is on its way out! As the days start getting shorter and the temperatures (hopefully) start dropping, kids will start going back to school. At The Affinity Center, we often get asked how to help children of all ages adjust to a new school year. The following are our tips for helping children with ADHD make the 2024-2025 school year the best one yet!
Getting Out the Door
A classic symptom of ADHD is difficulties in waking. This is because it takes ADHD brains a longer time to turn on. We often hear about how hard it is for kids with ADHD to get up and get going, especially in the early morning before a busy school day! Thankfully, there are many things that can help them start their days on the right foot:
Sleep is essential! Getting at least eight full hours of sleep is key to helping kids feel energized and ready to go. If falling asleep and staying asleep is hard for your child, consider signing your child up for a sleep study. Pediatric sleep doctors are knowledgeable in the many interventions that can help kids get a restful night’s sleep. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital has a pediatric sleep clinic that provides expert care for children who struggle with sleep. Their website can be found here: https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/service/s/sleep.
Make breakfast as easy as possible. Whether it's a protein shake, a protein bar, or even a turkey sandwich made the night before, making breakfast nutritious and portable can help kids fuel up for their day.
Don’t be afraid of letting them sleep in their school clothes! This is a controversial one, but some kids with ADHD struggle to wake up in the morning. By sleeping in their school clothes, they cut down the number of steps needed to get ready for school.
Keeping Track of Everything
Many kids with ADHD struggle to keep track of things like assignments, due dates, materials, and even computers and tablets. Difficulties with organization and losing things are both classic symptoms of ADHD. They are also among the most commonly reported barriers to children's success in school. Here are some ideas to help your child with ADHD get (and stay!) organized:
Ask your child’s teachers to share their academic calendar with you. Then you can know when assignments are due, permission slips need to be turned in, and when that field trip is!
Stock up on easily misplaced and easily replaceable items. Having a stash of things like pencils, erasers, AA batteries, markers, and hair ties can make school days that much easier.
Find a system that works for your child. It doesn’t matter if your kid’s backpack or folders don’t look like everyone else's! If keeping all their papers in one folder works for them, get them a big, sturdy folder that will last the whole year. If it’s easier for them to keep all their files on their computer’s desktop, only remind them to declutter their screen at the end of the quarter. ADDitude magazine, a publication for and by people with ADHD, has a great resource for helping students with ADHD organize themselves: https://www.additudemag.com/helping-adhd-students-get-organized-for-school/.
Homework
Getting homework done can be a big struggle for children with ADHD. Not only do kids have to sit still and pay attention for an entire school day, but they also have to come home and do even more work! It’s exhausting and can lead to many an argument. Some suggestions for improving homework time at home are…
Let your child relax after school. Set a timer and let your child do things like play games, color, or watch TV – whatever gets them calm and ready for their evening. Once that time is up, direct them to do other things, like get ready for dinner, do chores, or start their homework.
Create a homework routine and stick with it. People with ADHD need routine and structure to help them stay organized, but kids can’t be expected to organize themselves. Creating a routine where your child with ADHD knows when and where homework will get done can help give them the structure they need. Give your child a quiet, organized place to do their homework and encourage them to take regular screen-free breaks as they need to. More tips on how to create a consistent homework routine for kids with ADHD can be found here: https://www.additudemag.com/homework-routines/.
Get familiar with the online homework system your child’s school uses. Many schools now use various websites and online resources to assign homework. Becoming familiar with these digital tools will make homework time easier.
Common Questions
Many parents also ask our staff at The Affinity Center questions regarding things like the IEP and 504 process, medication management, and working with teachers. Entire articles could be written about each of these topics, as there are many considerations. In general, our advice is to be proactive. Begin asking about accommodations at the beginning of the semester, not right before finals. Request the medication forms for your child’s school nurse during the first month of school. If your child needs help with a particular subject and/or teacher, email that teacher and set up a time to talk as soon as you can. We also encourage you to learn your rights as a parent of a child with ADHD. Ohio parents can learn about their rights in special education here: https://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Special-Education/A-Guide-to-Parent-Rights-in-Special-Education. If you need anything from us to help your child succeed at school, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at (513) 984-1000!
by Mike Sauer, LPCC August 2024