Whether at home or at school, you can help your child cope with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) using a few simple strategies.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurological disorder that is present from birth. In some cases, it can be a lifelong condition. It is characterized by inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity that interfere with day-to-day functioning.
Heredity is the number one cause of ADHD, but the disorder is also linked to a number of other risk factors. These include environmental factors such as substance use during pregnancy, complications during delivery, and exposure to heavy metals.
ADHD can affect all children, but it often presents differently depending on the child’s gender.
ADHD primarily makes it difficult to do the following:
- Pay attention
- Control impulses
- Control hyperactivity
- Regulate emotions
- Stay organized
Although ADHD looks different from one child to the next, these are some of its most common associated behaviours:
- Lack of attention to detail
- Tendency to lose things
- Difficulty staying focused
- Difficulty sitting still
- Impulsivity (acting on impulse or emotion)
- Tendency to interrupt others
- Difficulty getting organized
After a long day at school, homework time is often more difficult for children dealing with ADHD. This is often due to lack of concentration, irritability, and fatigue. If this is the case for your child, here are some tips to make this part of their routine a little easier:
- Keep your child away from potential distractions (e.g., TV, tablet, conversations with other family members)
- Divide homework time into smaller sessions and allow for regular breaks
- Let your child move around (e.g., run around the table after each correct answer)
- Provide extra supplies in case your child forgets something (e.g., paper, pencils, erasers)
- Figure out the best time to do homework (e.g., before or after dinner)
- Etc.
After a long day at school, homework time is often more difficult for children dealing with ADHD. This is often due to lack of concentration, irritability, and fatigue. If this is the case for your child, here are some tips to help them get through their homework a little easier:
- Figure out the best time to do homework (e.g., before or after dinner)
- Provide extra supplies in case your child forgets something (e.g., paper, pencil, eraser)
- Eliminate distractions (e.g., TV, tablet, computer)
- Break down the work into smaller sessions and take breaks
- Let your child move around (e.g., run around the table after each correct answer)
- Encourage them to think aloud
- Etc.
Whether or not a child has ADHD, there are many factors that can affect their concentration. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can not only help with your child’s attention span, but also improve their mood and reduce fatigue. You can start by encouraging your child to do the following:
- Eat well
- Limit their screen time
- Get enough sleep
- Practise stress management techniques
- Get some exercise every day
- Etc.
There are numerous strategies that can help your child adapt their study approach to their attention span, such as taking short breaks or splitting tasks into smaller ones.
Children with ADHD are more vulnerable to the feeling of failure, which makes it especially important for them to develop a sense of competency. You can help your child do this by pointing out their strengths, which may include:
- Curiosity
- Enthusiasm
- Empathy
- Creativity
- Etc.
To discover more ways to help your child develop strong self-esteem, read our article.
Rewriting : The Alloprof Parents' team with the collaboration of the Institut TA
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MASSÉ, Line, VERREAULT, Martine et VERRET, Claudia, Mieux vivre avec le TDAH à la maison, Montréal, Édition Chenelière Éducation, 2011, 552 p.
VINCENT, Annick, Mon cerveau a besoin de lunettes, Montréal, Éditions Québec-Livres, 2010, 48 p.