Helping Your ADHD or ADD Child to Learn in School

Jan 30, 2011
Tamara Laschinsky

Helping your ADHD or ADD child to learn in school is possible with some simple techniques - Photo by: Department for Communities and Local Government with permission

Is your child struggling with his ADHD or ADD and having a hard time in school. By helping him with these tricks, he may learn better in a school setting.

Has your child been diagnosed with ADHD or ADD? Also known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD is one of the most common childhood mental disorders and can severely impact your child's ability to learn in school. It is not easy parenting an ADHD/ADD child and there are no sure-fire methods that will guarantee to help him learn in school. If you are wondering how to help your ADHD or ADD child, these tricks may help him stay organized and increase school success.

Helping Your ADHD or ADD Child Learn in School: Checklists

You may need the teacher's assistance, but having a good checklist can help your ADHD or ADD child keep on track while at school. A checklist can be posted inside the locker, in the binder and even on the desk. Your child can learn to refer to the list when he gets off track and is wondering what he is supposed to be doing.

A basic checklist would include things like:

Make sure you have pencils, pens, erasers etc.
Bring binder to class
Keep all loose paper in binder and organize during free time or at home
Write down assignments in daily agenda
Have teacher sign agenda
Bring agenda home for parents to review

Your child can also keep a copy of her schedule behind the checklist. Having a birds-eye view of her day may help her in preparing and being ready for each subject.

Helping Your ADHD or ADD Child Learn in School: Communication

Your child's teacher(s) is/are a great resource and keeping in constant communication with them will help with your child's ADHD or ADD. Teachers are with children for many hours a day and often can suggest some tricks to parents for helping their child cope with ADHD or ADD. Often, teachers have taken courses in helping children to learn and may be able to offer some insight to the parents.

You can also let teachers know what works and what doesn't at home and if you do any special rewards that you want continued at school. Consistency is important when managing ADHD or ADD and establishing a solid routine is very helpful for children trying to manage their ADHD or ADD.

Use a daily agenda and encourage your child to write down any homework assignments or tasks to remember. At the end of the day, have the teacher review and sign it. Once it comes home to you, look for the teacher's signature and any notes she may have written. Help your child complete the tasks and sign the agenda daily, so the teacher knows you have seen it as well. Daily agendas are similar to online calendars and cell phone calendars; they are very useful in keeping individuals organized and ensuring tasks are completed.

Helping Your ADHD or ADD Child Learn in School: Medication

Medicating your child is a personal option and one you should evaluate carefully. Not all pharmaceutical drugs work the same for a child and long-term effects are not fully understood yet for many of the drugs. On the flip-side, natural remedies for ADHD or ADD, such as herbal supplements and vitamins, have no conclusive clinical studies to prove their effectiveness in treating ADHD or ADD.

Speak with your doctor and a nutritionist to ensure you are covering all of your bases. Certain food sensitivities may aggravate and make ADHD or ADD symptoms worse for your child. Certain minerals and vitamins may help increase their ability to focus and stay calm and taking regular breaks to walk around or stretch out, may also help them if they can't sit still for long.

If you child is on any medications, be sure to communicate with his teacher so that they are aware. Ask the teacher to feed back any noticeable changes to you, good or bad. The goal is to help your child overcome and manage her ADHD or ADD and to help her succeed in life. Since there are no 100% proven techniques to manage ADHD, the decision for treatment options will not come easy.

Use your best judgment and avoid being influenced by others if you don't feel comfortable with the suggestions. A "one-size-fits-all" approach does not apply when it comes to helping children with ADHD or ADD and often, many techniques will need to be applied to help them manage their ADHD or ADD and learn in school.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.