Educators and Parent Strategies for Kids with ADHD

Individuals with ADHD are often creative, curious, intelligent and helpful. They tend to be individuals who enjoy creating something out of nothing, drawing and writing and eager to know all of the things, however; these individuals can also struggle in a classroom setting. I’ve witnessed this time and time again with my son who was recently diagnosed with ADHD. He tends to forget about school assignments, gets frustrated easily due to misunderstanding of what the assignment or teacher is asking, struggles to focus, tends to be disruptive and sometimes even struggles in social situations.

I’m come to learn very quickly that I need to advocate for my son and help get him the support and accommodations to set him up for success.

Here are 14 strategies both educators and parents can try to help learners with ADHD:

ADHD Education. One of the most important thing educators and parents can do for a child who has ADHD is to educate them on what it is. Share with them their individual strengths and weaknesses and help them understand any challenges they might face while reinforcing the fact that they have a support system who is there to help them succeed. By sharing their weakness, it allows more self-awareness and this idea that they can work on their individual challenges.

Set up a specific work station in each class. Oftentimes kids with ADHD struggle with organization and remembering to bring their school stuff. Obviously we all want to encourage these learners to become independent, responsible students, but it’s important that they are not missing out due to their forgetfulness. Set up a work station or drawer in each classroom specifically designed to hold extra supplies such as paper and pencils and/or books that the student would need. This allows them to still complete their assignments and tasks for the day without causing added stress. I’ve personally seen my son struggle with this because he can become super overwhelmed or embarrassed if called out for this reason, which in turn makes him want to shut down. I have a station like this set up at home due to his schooling being virtual for the past year and a half, and it’s helped tremendously.

Incorporate Hands-on Learning. Kids with ADHD tend to learn best when they are immersed in whatever they are learning. Try to add areas of opportunities both in the classroom and at home where the child is able to experience learning in a fun and interactive way. If they’re learning something science-related, have the children actually engaged in performing a related science experience. My child loves to make things and create things with his hands.

Consider flexible seating. When we found out our son was ADHD, it actually made a ton of sense because he cannot sit still. He’s constantly standing up, spinning in his chair, readjusting and more in a short span of time, so his school got him a wobble cushion. He went from falling from his chair to sitting stationary more times than not. We got one similar to this one. Other options include wobble chairs, yoga balls or even allowing them to stand while doing work.

Confidence-Building Focus. Many kids who have ADHD struggle with low self-esteem. Sometimes it can be hard to see because they shadow it with silly, sometimes attention-seeking behaviors such as telling jokes or making silly noises. It’s been very evident the past 6 months since my son’s diagnosis that he struggles academically in some subjects as well, specifically reading. He also gets upset over seemingly minuscule things and sometimes has a hard time getting along with fellow classmates. He’s constantly trying to fit in, but oftentimes he finds himself trying too hard and that can in turn lead to him getting in trouble. Frequently visit and discuss his strengths and positive qualities and refer back to them they need it most. Build them up instead of breaking them down.

Be clear with verbal and written instructions. Kids with ADHD tend to struggle with following multi-step directions given all at once. They need concise and clear directions explained with words they know and understand. If you want to help them not forget the information, try providing both written and verbal instruction as it reinforces what you explained in two different ways. It helps kids that get lost get back on track with the task at hand quicker.

Provide a schedule. Kids with ADHD have a difficult time understanding the concept of time when it comes to planning and organizing their day. Try having a visual schedule of what the day will look like so that the child can clearly recognize what’s coming up next for them. My child asks a lot of questions, so this idea will help vet some of the questions during a lesson.

Stick to Routines. Whenever possible, add routines. This might add more time for planning purposes, but routines help kids with ADHD understand exactly what they need to do and at what times. It takes the guess work out, and they feel more at ease by feeling like they’re “in the know”.

Encourage Journaling and/or Counseling. Kids who have ADHD tend to talk a lot, so by encouraging journaling, they’re able to talk about all of the things. They can ask teachers or parents questions or express their thoughts openly. Let them know that it’s a positive safe place for them. Our son started talking to a school counselor once a week, and it was great for him just to talk about how he was feeling. This counselor would then relay any concerns or suggestions to ourselves as parents and his teachers.

Allow Extra Time throughout the Day. Sometimes kids who have ADHD tend to take a bit longer with finishing up a test or homework assignment. They might even have a hard time getting organized before moving onto the next task, so one of the things I would suggest it to allow a bit more time throughout the day for them to complete tasks and transition onto something else. Some kids with ADHD will have an IEP in place which allocates them more time for schoolwork and testing (among other fantastic resources), but I have seen first hand that if my child falls behind even in the slightest while working on something, he gets easily frustrated and then upset. If possible, allow more time for these students to get caught up

Fidgets. My son’s school immediately provided fidgets for him to help him focus and deal with his ADHD and his anxiety. At first, he thought these were simply toys which then turned into another distraction, but when I explained the reasoning behind them, he started using them in the intended way. Snag your child a fidget spinner, a pop fidget, a mini pop tube or something else along those lines. When my son starts getting anxiety or experiencing any kind of stress, he has some sort of fidget within arms reach to help him. Here is a variety sample pack we love!

Reduce Distraction. This is a BIG one that can be overlooked quite easily. When my son’s school decided to go virtual, because of COVID, his struggles became very evident. His daycare really stepped up and helped the students who were forced to go virtual get through a year of virtual learning. Our son struggled because he was in a classroom surrounded by others doing virtual learning and the distractions were everywhere. Students had different class times, teachers were loud, kids were loud (have you ever seen gym done virtually?). Because of all the variances, he struggled to understand why other kids were able to play yet he was glued to a computer screen. The teachers did their best to minimize distractions for every child, but it’s nearly impossible to get rid of. The daycare placed him in a place that helped minimize distraction, and we were blessed to have a former teacher drop in and help him weekly. My son is very social, so virtual learning was so difficult for him.

Focusing on Teaching Positive Self-Talk and Building them Up. Kids and adults alike with ADHD tend to hear a lot of negative feedback. My son heard a lot at first. People were frustrated with him and didn’t understand why he would get so upset over something they thought was so small, yet instead of building his confidence, they told him to suck it up and act his age. He started to believe all of the things he was hearing to the point where he would say things like, “I’m not smart enough,” or “I’m the dumbest kid in my class”. As a mother, that not only ticked me off, but it broke my damn heart. Educators and parents alike, and everyone else for that matter, need to work on building these individuals up by teaching them and showing them what positive self-talk is. I have to battle with my son nearly daily for him to understand his worth, his intelligence, his humor, etc., and that sucks to have to do that with a seven year old. He should never have felt or been subject to any of that negative behavior.

Partnership. One of the best things we did for our son upon learning that he was ADHD was to schedule a meeting with his teachers and the school’s principle. They pulled in some additional support as well, and together we came up with a plan on how to help him be successful. They provided fidget spinners and other items to help him stay focused. They scheduled him a weekly meeting with a school psychologist and provided more one-on-one support. I encourage both educators and parents to do this every school year to ensure they’re all on the same page and are seeking to support your ADHD to the best of their abilities. Advocate for an IEP! I saw a 360 degree shift in his attitude and educational competency once we got him the support he needed, and he’s thriving now because of that. Partner with each other to help the child succeed.

As a parent of a recently diagnosed child with ADHD, these are some of the ways his teachers (and ourselves) can and have empowered him to be the best he can be while helping him succeed. What other strategies have you used with your ADHD child?