How to support children with ADHD
It is estimated that around 3 to 5% of children in the UK are diagnosed with ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.) It is one of the most common neurodevelopmental conditions of childhood and mostly affects the ability to focus and process information. For children with ADHD, it can be managed with appropriate educational support, advice and support for parents and medication.
Just like adults, children may present with one of three types of ADHD:
Predominantly inattentive presentation: Children with the inattentive presentation of ADHD struggle to focus and stay on task. They may appear to be daydreaming often and they may struggle to stay organised.
Predominantly hyperactive/impulsive presentation: Children with the hyperactive presentation are impulsive and are unable to sit still. They often fidget in their chairs and appear to have endless energy.
Combined presentation: The combined presentation causes impairment in attention as well as hyperactivity.
We have put together some tip tips so parents can support their children at home to ensure their academic journey is as smooth as possible.
CREATE STRUCTURE
Children with ADHD need clear routine patterns and a clear structure. This will help them to understand expectations and manage their time more effectively. Top tips include:
Avoid chaotic settings and distractions as much as possible
Set up a homework or study area
Do homework every day at the same time
Encourage them to participate in house chores
Make sure you leave time and space for fun activities everyday
SET CLEAR RULES, EXPECTATIONS AND BE CONSISTENT
Rules are essential to create a structure and routine; however, being extremely rigid can be counterproductive. Building in some flexibility to adapt to your child’s moods shows that you care about their feelings and value their individualism. Give clear, brief instructions, and repeat them if needed. Use visual prompts and task lists to help your child check off completed work.
BREAK DOWN TASKS
Break large tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks. Pupils should tackle assignments in multiple sessions, with breaks in between. Children with ADHD can get overwhelmed easily if their tasks are too long or have too much information. Breaking them into small chunks can help them manage it much better and process the information more easily.
Example: If your child has a maths paper to complete for homework, try and divide the maths questions into three chunks and answer 2-3 questions at a time.
ALLOW BREAKS
One of the main aspects of ADHD is the difficulty to focus for prolonged periods of time. Make sure that you allow your child to have enough breaks to avoid them feeling overwhelmed. If they present signs of struggle while completing a task, try taking a break to do something else instead and come back to it after a little while.
Example: Set a timer for 20 minutes to complete a comprehension task. After 20 minutes, pause, have a snack or do some physical activity for 20 minutes, then return to the task to complete it.
PROVIDE POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT
Some children with ADHD may feel inadequate, frustrated or have low self-confidence due to the difficulties they may face in school. Providing emotional support, positive words and reassurance is crucial to avoid self-esteem issues. It is importance to focus on the positive aspects of your child’s education and provide guidance in the areas where they struggle the most.
Example: “I know you found this maths homework particularly challenging, well done for trying, I am proud of your efforts. Next time, shall we work through the questions together?”
NOURISH THEIR INTERESTS
Children with ADHD can be very enthusiastic, passionate, and creative individuals. Supporting their interests beyond academic studies will develop their emotional wellbeing and boost their self-esteem.
BE MINDFUL OF SCREEN TIME
Whilst technology can be a great support for children’s education, pupils with ADHD tend to fixate on certain things, which can lead to negative consequences. A survey of tech use during the COVID-19 pandemic turned up not just higher chances of ADHD symptoms, but more harmful impact from screen time on children who had already been diagnosed. The screen overload, which 90% of families reported, had severe effects:
It made ADHD symptoms worse
It ramped up other mental health issues, such as anxiety
It made general behaviour worse, according to the vast majority – almost 85% – of caregivers
Forcing children off screen triggered outbursts of frustration and anger
It led to a lack of interest in school or other activities
It caused sleep problems
Setting timers and encouraging other types of activities can be really helpful and eliminate the negative consequences.
ENCOURAGE CALM DOWN TIME
Some children with ADHD might present some difficulties winding down after experiencing high levels of energy. Mindfulness, yoga or breathing exercises can be good options to encourage them to calm down and relax. Some useful apps for this are Calm or Headspace.