All children with ADHD should have at least one evidence-based learning strategy (Evidence -based learning strategies are those that have been evaluated by researchers within school settings and found to be effective) in place during the school day.  That might be a behavior plan which teaches new skills while substituting problematic behaviors with suitable alternatives. A Daily Report Card provides students with ADHD with explicit expectations and maintains a steady system of rewards and consequences to guide their behavior in a positive direction. Organizational skills training is ..read more

As a parent of a child with ADHD, you have spent a great deal of time advocating for your child. You repeatedly explain your child’s ADHD symptoms to teachers, coaches, doctors, and even family members and friends, and work hard to learn about and seek the best treatments and supports to meet your child’s medical, academic, and social needs.   This is no small task, especially since ADHD is often misunderstood (even by professionals). While you can be the one advocating for your child right now, there will come a time when they need to take on this role themselves. We now know that A ..read more

Most children with ADHD struggle with transitions. When these happen frequently and escalate into meltdowns, tantrums, and defiance, everyone in the family is affected. These behavior challenges can cause families to stop doing some of the things they enjoy because it is so difficult to get their children ready and out the door. Other times, they cause parents to avoid setting rules around things like screen time, getting to the dinner table on time, or starting homework because they don’t feel like they can handle the emotional outbursts from their children.  Consistent routines and expe ..read more

Children with ADHD typically struggle with motivation and often have difficulty persisting with challenging homework assignments and projects. These difficulties are largely due to ADHD symptoms, but they can be exacerbated or helped by other factors, including a child’s mindset. A growth mindset is one’s belief that their intelligence and abilities can be improved through effort and practice. With a growth mindset, children believe that their knowledge and skills are never static and can be improved over time. In contrast, children with a fixed mindset believe that these characteristics are s ..read more

Children with ADHD are constantly being told to stop interrupting their parents, teachers and friends. In fact, interrupting others during conversations or activities is a hallmark feature of ADHD. It’s something that happens so automatically that children with ADHD are often unaware when they interrupt someone or have done something that others find annoying. This lack of awareness coupled with a tendency to act without thinking means that telling a child with ADHD to “stop interrupting” won’t change their behavior. Instead, children with ADHD need support from their parents to change their h ..read more

Children with ADHD need clear and consistent expectations in order to thrive at school and at home. Expectations provide structure and consistency, and help them strive to reach their full potential. Unfortunately, setting realistic expectations for a child with ADHD is hard! For the most part, the rules and guidance around typical age-appropriate expectations don’t apply.   Developmentally, children and teens with ADHD are generally 2-3 years behind their peers when it comes to social skills and executive functioning skills (the skills needed for impulse control, sustained attention ..read more

Open, ongoing communication between parents and teachers is essential for children with ADHD. In fact, the most effective non-medication interventions for children with ADHD involve regular communication between parents and teachers. At the start of a new school year, parents have the opportunity to set the stage for productive, ongoing collaboration with their child’s teacher. Follow these guidelines to get things started off on the right foot:   Initiate the first meeting.  Teachers have 25-30 new students in their classroom at the start of the school year, and will probably n ..read more

When your child has ADHD, getting them to follow through on seemingly simple requests can be frustrating and challenging. You’ve probably wondered more than a few times how your child is able to tune you out so effectively, to the point where they seem to not hear you when you ask them to do something. Or maybe you struggle to understand what exactly happens when you ask them to go put on their shoes and socks only to have them come back 20 minutes later with a sock on one foot and no shoes in sight.   Moments like these are par for the course when you have a child with ADHD, but the ..read more

Transitioning to a new school can be difficult for children with ADHD. Whether your child is starting at a new school because of a family move or because their old school wasn’t a good fit, they will need extra support from their parents, teachers, therapist and/or school counselor to make the adjustment as smooth as possible. If your child struggled academically or socially at their previous school, a new school may bring a welcome fresh start. A fresh start can make a big difference for children with ADHD, but it’s also important to keep your expectations realistic and remember that a new sc ..read more

Heading back to school in the fall can trigger big emotions for children with ADHD. Even typical back-to-school excitement and anticipation can be overwhelming for children who have difficulty managing their emotions. Layered on top of this are more complicated feelings that stem from struggles your child may have had academically or with friends and teachers in past school years. These feelings are confusing to children who aren’t able to connect their current emotions with their past experiences. In fact, depending on their age and level of emotional maturity, many children can’t articulate ..read more