Blog — Parenting

Research tells us that adding choices, visuals and hands on activities are beneficial for students diagnosed with ADHD, but what does that look like in our classrooms? Here are 4 tips for applying research and supporting students with ADHD. 

ADD IN CHOICES 

When students are able to make choices about their learning, they feel valued and invested. Giving choices doesn’t have to be disruptive to your classroom. These examples allow the student to feel in control without being disruptive: 

• Would you like to write the sentences on the computer, paper or whiteboard? 
• Do you want to work at your desk, standing by the table or on a beanbag chair? 

• Would you like to listen to music while you work? 

None of these choices will create havoc, but they all will incorporate the movement and input our students sometimes crave. 

VISUALS 

Use visuals to support sequencing, initiation and following directions.  Visuals could be pictures, clip art, photos, text or a combination of all types. One of my most favorite things about visuals is how they are able to be faded. 

It's important to remember that we need to have a plan for fading any prompts we add in. Without fading, the student will need help lifelong. Read the blog posts below to help create plans for fading supports and helping our students to be more independent. 

• Using Visuals To Reduce Prompt Dependency 
• Visual Supports Improve Behavior and Classroom Management 

ORGANIZE MATERIALS 

Students diagnosed with ADHD often struggle with organization, so this is an area students may need specific teaching and help.  This is a great time to add in choices and talk about what is or isn’t helpful. Here are some ideas for systems for organization: 

• Color coded by activity or class 
• Use an expandable folder divided by class or activity 

• Have a small tote bag for each class or subject 
• Teach students to use a drawer system where each drawer is a different class or subject 

If your student is somewhat able to remain organized independently, a binder system with dividers may also be an option. 

ORGANIZE TIME  

Initiation and sustained attention and participation can be an area of struggle. Adding in supports such as a visual schedule, visual timers or checklists can help. Click the links below to read more about classroom organization strategies. 

• Tools for adjusting the environment 
• Implementing visual schedules

As you begin to think about and plan for supporting your students with ADHD, remember that most of these ideas and supports are helpful for all students. Teaching your whole class about these strategies and tools can develop lifelong skills for your entire class. 

About the Author  
Pam Petralia has been a special education teacher for over 20 years and has worked in a variety of settings (self-contained, resource, k-2, middle school, etc.) She is the owner and creator of Mrs. P's Specialties which helps teachers easily implement and apply research based practices through tips & ideas, resources and consulting into their classrooms.   
 

Links to follow: 

Blog: www.mrspspecialties.com 

Instagram: @mrspspecialties 

FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/mrspspecialties 

Tips for Managing ADHD 

By Jessica Rapp Irwin, OTR/L of Rooted in Routine 

October is ADHD awareness month, and as a pediatric occupational therapist, I have worked with many children with an ADHD diagnosis over the years. Let me tell you - they are some of the smartest, most creative, and most caring children I’ve ever met! However, in terms of learning and attention, they often struggle simply because their brains work slightly differently. 

Children with ADHD have difficulty with focusing and concentrating on certain tasks. There is a difference in the brain that causes this difficulty. They may have trouble staying focused on one task for long periods of time, they may be more distracted by things in their environment (sights, sounds, objects, etc.) than other children their age, or they may appear “fidgety” and have the need to move their body often.  

However, children with ADHD are able to focus, but they often focus on what’s not important at that moment. Therefore, we can modify the environment (something OT’s do best!) to help them focus on what is important for the task at hand. They may also require modifications to help their body remain calm in order to help promote focus and concentration. 

Here are some evidence-based tips to help your child with ADHD succeed at school (in-person or virtual) and at home: 

1. Keep a consistent routine. This is the number one tip that can transform both home and school life for your child. When tasks are done in the same way and in the same order, it provides a sense of predictability and stability for your child. This in turn limits distractions and deviations from the routine. For example, each morning try to go through the same steps in the same order: eat breakfast, brush teeth, get dressed, pack backpack, put on jacket and shoes, and leave for school (if virtual, replace with sit at virtual learning space. 
2. Create a visual schedule. This is where you write down, in order, exactly what your child is going to do, and then have them mark it off as they complete each step. You can create a schedule for the entire day, or make one for the span of an hour or two. For example, your child’s afternoon schedule might be “eat snack, do 20 minutes of homework, play outside”. Writing this down will help your child understand what is happening next and know what to expect, which is one of the most important factors in reducing distractibility, difficulty focusing, or refusal behaviors (those “I don’t want to!!” moments). Simply get out a piece of paper and write your child’s schedule as a list. If they’re old enough, have them help write it with you!  
3. Set up a consistent “learning space” or “homework space” with limited distractions. Try to have your child sit in the same spot each day when they are logged into virtual learning or when completing homework. Help promote better focus by removing any toys or objects nearby that could cause distractions. If your child is sitting in a chair, make sure your child’s feet can touch flat on the ground (if not, use a stool or stack of books!) - this helps your child’s body feel more supported. However, don’t be afraid to try alternate positions such as having your child lay on their belly or even stand up while completing school work. Sometimes these alternate positions can actually help with better attention, particularly for those kiddos with ADHD! 
4. Use a visual timer. This can be a sand timer, a kitchen timer, or the Time Timer! Visual timers help children understand the concept of time because they can see how much time is left to complete a task. This is so important for children with ADHD because they are often visual learners. Give your child the “job” of setting the timer before a task, which gives them a sense of control and purpose. For example, before beginning homework, have your child set the timer to 20 minutes. This way they know how long they’re expected to focus and know they will be getting a break when the timer goes off. 
5. Include movement breaks and/or outdoor time within the day. This is very important! All children need to move their bodies, but especially those with ADHD. Staying still is particularly challenging for these kiddos, so building breaks into the day is imperative. Movement actually helps your child pay better attention when done as a preventive measure. Build movement breaks into your child’s routine, rather than using them as a reward or something that only happens if they get “X” amount done. Getting outside for even 5-10 minutes can do wonders, but if that’s not possible, there are plenty of ways to move inside - put on music and have a 5-minute dance party, do 100 jumping jacks, or play a GoNoodle video on YouTube… all great ways for your child to move his or her body!  
6. Use your child’s interests to your advantage. Whenever possible, try to include your child’s interests in the activity you want them to focus on. Children with ADHD are actually very much able to focus on things they are interested in, so go with it! If your child has favorite characters, try to include them in activities at home and encourage your child’s teacher to do the same at school. If your child has a competitive side, try making things into “races” or “challenges” so they are motivated to complete the task at hand. For example, have a race to see who can put on their shoes faster! 

Remember, children with ADHD are smart, capable, and creative - they just might need a few slight tweaks to shine! Try out these tips above to make things go a bit smoother for both you and your child. 

 
 
 
About the Author: 

Jessica Rapp Irwin, OTR/L, is a pediatric occupational therapist, childhood routine expert, and lover of all things child development. She founded Rooted in Routine, an online parent coaching platform, to help parents learn simple, easy to implement routines for optimal child development starting at age one. She is passionate about educating parents on NORMAL, HEALTHY development, which is often simpler than we think. Jessica’s approach is largely rooted in going back to the basics to help you establish solid, age-appropriate routines for your child for things like eating, play, and sleep. She believes this is the most important foundation you can provide for your child - and she wants to help you do just that!  
 

Learn more about Jessica at https://www.rootedinroutine.com/about and follow her on Instagram at @rootedinroutine.  

Teaching kindness probably ranks high on your list of parenting goals. But it’s an easy thing to lose sight of in the day-to-day hustle of school, work, dinner and homework. We found four kindness activities for kids and parents to help you keep kindness at the center of your family’s busy life.

September is a great month for grandparents! In the United States, Grandparents Day is Sunday September 8, but in Japan, the celebration is even bigger. There’s a national holiday to celebrate all elderly people called Respect for the Aged Day. It takes place the third Monday of every September and offers plenty of inspiration for honoring grandparents.

This Thanksgiving, we’ve got tips to help you cultivate not only thankfulness but a true attitude of gratitude in your children, which we hope will benefit them all year long!