Children with ADHD can have a very difficult time in school.  They often suffer with a secondary diagnosis such as learning disabilities, tourettes syndrome, or others.  We want their time at school to be successful for them and may have to adapt expectations to ensure learning has a positive outcome for the child.

These are some suggestions to help you and your child have a successful homework experience.  Keep in mind that every child is different and routines must be fit to your child’s needs.

Find out the recommended amount of time that your child should be spending on homework each day.  This varies depending on the age of the child.  A general guideline is:

• Elementary           30 minutes/school day
• Middle School        60 minutes/school day
• High School          90 minutes/school day

Having a communication book or agenda to write down the homework assignments is a good idea.  I learned long ago though that just because you have one doesn’t mean the homework will get written down, or that it will get brought home.  Of course it depends on your child, but you may need to get the teacher or assistant to help in this regard. 

Remember that schedule and routine is important for kids with ADD ADHD.  Set a homework schedule and stick with it.  When is the child best able to concentrate? Some kids do best to get it done straight after school.  Others are involved in activities and need to do homework after supper. 

Set up a study area, homework should be done in the same area daily.  All the necessary supplies should be close at hand.  Children should not be doing homework in front of the television or while talking on the phone to a friend.  The study area must be free from all these kinds of distractions.

Children with attention deficit disorder can get overwhelmed with large projects.  They have difficulty staying on task.  They work better if the task is broken down into smaller more manageable chunks.  If you have 20 math problems to do, try doing 5 or 10 at a time with a little break in between.

If doing 30 minutes of homework at a time is too much for your child, break it up into 10-15 minute intervals with a small bathroom break.  Using an egg timer helps your child to visualize how much time is left.  Set the timer for study minutes and break minutes, it will help your child stay on task.

Always stop if your child is getting too frustrated.  You don’t want to force the issue and have him hating homework time.  When your child is really frustrated, they will not learn anyway.

I once worked with a child that could not ingest anymore learning after the regular school day was finished.  It was a constant battle of frustration and tears every day.  The child was not getting anything at all out of doing homework, his brain just couldn’t take anymore in.  It was starting to affect the relationship that we had.  I talked to the teacher and explained the situation and said that if that were the case, I would simply put the homework away.  From then on, the teacher did what they could not to send homework home.  If she did, we would try it, some days he could do a bit, other days we just put the books away.

That’s what I mean about working with the individual child’s abilities.  Other kids are able to manage small amounts of homework.  Other kids may work on a reading program so that they try and read 15 minutes each night.  Make a plan so your child will be successful. 

Use plenty of positive reinforcement, and small rewards.  Praising your child and saying job well done goes along way in getting them motivated to continue.  Immediate positive reinforcement will help keep them involved.

[tags]homework for adhd, adhd, homework assignments, learning disability, attention deficit disorder, hyperactive, staying on task, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder[/tags]

Popularity: 78% [?]

Share This

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

I make it a point of eating meals together in my house.  Whoever is there sits together at my table and has the meal.  We always say a prayer. It doesn’t matter what friends are over and my kids know it, and now so do their friends. 

I think it is of great value to sit and eat as a family, and I think this tradition has been lost in too many homes today.  People eat in front of the TV, or they grab something on the way to a sport or a meeting.  Eating together as a family, taking time to ask each other “how was your day” and listen to the answer is of huge benefit in keeping the lines of communication open.

Even though I’m not a breakfast person, I stop working to go and sit with my kids while they are eating theirs.  They tell me about the dreams they had, or what they are going to be doing at school that day.

We have a game that we often play at our evening meal.  It’s called Best Thing,  Worst Thing.  It’s very simple, each person tells about the best and worst things that happened that day.  This is a fun way for us to communicate.  The kids can’t wait to start the game, it helps them develop speaking and listening skills and it helps me to know what they are up to at school.

Popularity: 56% [?]

Share This

Parenting an ADHD child can be challenging on a good day!  These are some ways I have found helpful in parenting a child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.  It is by no means an exhaustive list.

12 Tips and Trick to help your ADD/ADHD Child Behave…

1. Realize that you are working with a disability.  It helps me to take a step back and understand that a lot of the behaviors that my son exhibits are because of the ADHD, not because he is a “bad child” or because I’m a “bad parent”.  It’s not like he “purposely” gobbles his supper, forgetting all the table manners that I teach him EVERYDAY.  Nor is he trying to annoy me with the CONSTANT, ENDLESS chatter.  That is the way he is, period!
2. Structure and Routine.  Establishing a daily routine for you child is so very important.  Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder do not respond well to spontaneity or change.  They like to know what is going to happen and at what time.  We have a routine established in our home and try not to deviate from it.  Even the order in which we get ready for school is not altered.  If we plan to do something that is different than what is regularly “scheduled”, I let my son know the day before and remind him a few times.  This give him a chance to prepare.
3. Organization and Time Management.  I have a really big calendar that hangs in my kitchen.  I put every activity on this calendar for each person in the home.  If there is a special event coming up, a school activity, or even a friend coming over to visit I write it all down.  It helps my son to be able to visualize.  Every morning, he will go and check the calendar to see what’s happening that day.
4. Be Consistent.  It takes lots more work, but being consistent with an ADHD child is very necessary.  You need to be consistent in the daily routine and include logical consequences all the time.  If “Sam” does behavior A, he know that consequence B is going to happen EVERY time.  Give the child one warning to stop the behavior and then have the consequence happen immediately.  You also need to be consistent over the long haul in things you do.  I have to remind my son everyday about his table manners.  This likely won’t change.
5. Agree on the consequences together.  Your child is more likely to “buy in” to your set of rules and consequences if they have had some say and fell like they are part of the decision making process.  
6. Avoid Power Struggles.  Children with ADHD will often try to engage you in a debate.  Do not do this.  Instead give short direct answers and keep repeating them.  Instead of raising your voice (to be sure you are heard), try lowering it.
7. When giving instruction, break bigger tasks into smaller more manageable ones.  Instead of telling him to set the table, ask him to put the plates on.  Once that is accomplished, put the forks and knives on and so on.  Being given a big task is often to overwhelming for an ADHD child, if the task is broken into smaller bits, you will see a greater success of completing the task.
8. Be very specific when giving instructions.  When giving instructions to a “normal” child, you might say “John, take out the garbage please” and John would know what to do.  The garbage would end up in the appropriate receptacle outside.  When giving instruction to an ADD child, you need to be specific in order to help your child successfully complete the task.  “John, please tie up the garbage bag, bring it outside and put it in the silver can by the back gate.”
9. Catch your child doing something good.  Reward your child for the smallest things that they do correctly or without being prompted.  A kind word, or pat on the back will go along way in helping your child repeat such behaviors.
10. Always show them love and respect and lead by example.
11. Provide an outlet for release of energy.  Children that are hyperactive need a safe way to release some of that energy.  Getting them involved in a sport such as Karate, or Tae Kwon Do is a constructive way to release energy.
12. Take some time for you.  It is very important for you a the parent of an AD(H)D child to take a break.  This could be Dad letting Mom have the night off to go out with a friend.  It could be sending your children to Grandma’s for a sleepover.  It could be setting up a regular respite home that your child goes to for a weekend once each month.  However you work it in, remember taking time for you as a parent is not a bad thing.  Having a chance to rest and relax will give you renewed energy and allow you to give your best to your child. 

Popularity: 54% [?]

Share This

FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) is the “catch all” term used in place of other terminology such as:

• FAS (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome)
• FAE (Fetal Alcohol Effects)
• ARND (Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder)

What does it mean to you?

O.K. now that we have all the technical information out of the way, what does that mean to you as a parent or caregiver and your child?

There is no cure for FASD.  Individuals diagnosed with FASD have organic brain damage.  Some call it the “Swiss Cheese Effect” or “Holes in the Brain”.  This is a disability that is 100% preventable.

Statistics show it as a leading cause of mental retardation and developmental disabilities in both Canada and the United States.  The physical characteristics of FASD differ in each child.  Your child may have some or all of these features:

Some of the ways that FASD can effect your child are: 

Children with FASD are socially immature.  They have poor reasoning skills, poor social judgment and are easily influenced by peers. 

For example, Suzie’s “friend” can easily talk her into stealing a candy bar from the store.  The friend won’t stick around when it’s time for consequences and Suzie will end up getting blamed for the inappropriate behavior. 

Consequently, children with FASD require a high level of supervision. 

Individuals with FASD often have a difficult time maintaining relationships.  They don’t have personal boundaries or feel the need to respect others personal space.  It feels like they’re “in your face”.  At first, they may seem very engaging and approachable, but then become intrusive.  They may have difficulty bonding to caregivers.

Children do not know what a stranger means and will not discriminate.  Anyone Suzie meets instantly is her “friend”.  Suzie will tell you about her “friend” that she played with at the park one time and not even know the person’s name.  You won’t have any details as to who this person was and if they were a friend or stranger.  Supervision is needed in this area as kids can so easily be led astray.

These kids can talk the talk but they can’t walk the walk, meaning they can mimic and imitate what is being told to them by parents and professionals, but often have no idea how to carry it out.

These are just some examples of what you may face as the parent or caregiver of a FASD child, and we’ll get into it much further in future posts. 

That being said, a mistake often made when working with alcohol affected children is thinking that because they have this disability, they  are all the same.  Although a lot of the intellectual, social and emotional issues may be similar, it is important to remember that these kids are individuals who have their own unique personalities, strengths and challenges. 

What works well for one child may not be effective with another child.  As parents (biological, adoptive or foster) and caregivers of FASD children, it is your job to find out what does work well for your child.

Popularity: 100% [?]

Share This

Welcome

These days raising regular, healthy, well-adjusted children can be a challenge. Throw a learning disability or physical handicap in the mix - Well let’s just say you better hold on tight and enjoy the ride. Raising Special Needs Children can be the most frustrating, challenging and rewarding job there is, and that can all happen in one afternoon.

You are the Parent of a Special Needs Child, that’s why you’re here.   You’re looking for information to help you succeed at this enormous task that is in front of you.  Parenting your Special Needs Child.  Don’t worry, you’re not the only one.

10 Things to Start Doing Today

• Remember that you are working with a disability.  Stop and ask yourself is it that my child won’t do ________or that he can’t.
• Get Information. Find out as much as you can about the disability your child has.  Once you think you know enough, keep learning and reading more.
• Learn how to be an advocate for your child.  You may need to discuss programming options with the school.  You may have foster children in your care and need to advocate with Children’s Services.  You may even need to talk to the Brownie Leader about the needs of your child.  Don’t be afraid to do this.  It has been my experience that people do generally want to help you.
• Make yourself a “support network”. When you have had an awful day with the kids and just need someone to talk to, where do you go?  It is important to have people that you can talk to that know what you are going through, and have been through the same thing.
• Join a special needs support group or discussion forum for ld (Some are listed in the links section of this site).
• Take time to love your child and admire the things they can do. Enjoy each day with them, and celebrate even the smallest victory they have.
• Remember that you can’t give your best to your children if your running on empty.   Make sure you are getting adequate sleep and proper nutrition and exercise.   Problems can sometimes seems much bigger than they actually are if you’re “on empty”.
• Take time for yourself at least once each week.  Have a nice bath, read a book, light some scented candles.   Do whatever you do to relax.
• Have a “Date night” at least twice each month.  Get dressed up and go out for an evening alone with your partner.
• It is absolutely necessary to laugh everyday. I mean the can’t stop belly kind of laugh!  I’m sure someone has done a study that I could quote, but laughing is good for your brain and your heart.

 

Popularity: 56% [?]

Share This