6 Tips to Help Children with ADHD Head Back to School

In many counties in Kentucky, school has been in session since about the middle of August. That means we’re about 2-3 weeks into the new school year. Adjusting to new routines — such as a brand-new school year — can be difficult for children with ADHD.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 9.8% of school-aged children in the United States have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). ADHD can make it more difficult for your child to stay on task and pay attention in school, but it’s not just the school work that can be hard. Back-to-school time also contributes to increased stress and even anxiety due to the sudden changes in routine and new situations.

These strategies can help your child adjust back to the school-time routines.

1. Re-establish Bedtime Routines

Many kids stay up later in the summer, so it can be harder to adjust back to the earlier bedtimes during the school year. If your child is still struggling to get back into a bedtime routine, keep these tips in mind:

• Practice good sleep hygiene
• Avoid TVs, tablets, and screens for 1-2 hours before bed
• If using e-readers, make sure the amber/night mode light is on (learn more about warm-lights here)
• Use a white noise machine
• Sleep in a cool, dark room

Certain cues, such as putting on pajamas or taking a warm bath, can help signal to your child and help them prepare mentally for bed. Engage in calming activities before bed and avoid any activities that are too stimulating or exciting right before bed.

2. Prepare Your Child’s Homework Area

Part of a successful school year includes good study habits at home. If your child is old enough to have homework or require study time, prepare a study place so your child has a designated place at home to work. For example, it can be distracting for a child with ADHD to try and work in a busy area of the home. Instead, create a study place in a quiet area of the house free from major distractions (such as a busy entryway with people coming and going.)

Include place to store books and other school supplies, paper, pencils, a trash can, comfortable seating, and proper lighting.

3. Create a Calendar for Extracurricular Activities

Children with ADHD often thrive on predictability, but with many after-school activities, it can be harder to predict the schedule on any given day. Creating a regular school schedule can help your child find the predictiabily he or she craves.

Create a family calendar and post it in a central location ahead of time. Include school drop off and pick up times, after-school activities, sports practices and games, appointments, and other family obligations.

4. Talk with Your Child’s Teacher

If you have concerns about your child’s behavior or academic performance, don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher. Your teacher may provide valuable information to you and vice versa!

Not sure what to say? Read this article for tips on talking to your child’s teacher about ADHD.

5. Practice Calming Exercises

A new school year — and all of the new activities and environments, and challenges — can be stressful. Teaching your child calming exercises can help give them tools to use during the school day if they become overwhelmed or stressed. Good examples include:

• Breathing exercises
• The 5-4-3-2-1 ground method
• Stretching (a good idea for recess)

At home, you can listen to calming music or try Calming apps.

6. Be Gentle and Encouraging

Remember to use positive reinforcement to remind your child that you believe in them, you are proud of them, and you appreciate good behavior (when you spot it).

• Check out this article for 16 Positive Parenting Phrases to use.

Get Help with ADHD This School Year

Preparation and sticking to a routine can go a long way in helping your child ease back into school routines. That being said, if you suspect your child needs more help managing his or her ADHD, don’t hesitate to reach out. Untreated ADHD can make it hard to focus on school, but with the right treatment, school doesn’t have to be so hard.

If you have concerns about your child — whether they have been diagnosed with ADHD or not — please feel free to reach out to our multidisciplinary team. Our team excels at treating ADHD with therapy, lifestyle modifications, and when needed, medication.

Click here to schedule an appointment.