10 Essential Steps to Support Children with ADHD

 

Ten Steps to Support Children with ADHD

February 1, 2023 by Cindy Goldrich

Here are 10 essential steps to improve the care, support, and outcomes for children with ADHD.

1. Understand the Social/Emotional impact of ADHD on learning, motivation, behavior, and the family system.

2. Create a uniform, comprehensive diagnostic procedure for assessing ADHD, including full family history, medical assessment for allergies and sensitivities, cognitive assessment, and observation in multiple settings.

3. Provide each parent with comprehensive education about ADHD and parent coaching to support active learning, motivation, and behavior.

4. Include a trained ADHD specialist in educational settings along with the learning specialist, speech pathologist, occupational therapist, etc., when creating the circle of support.

5. Educate all teachers about the full impact of ADHD and Executive Function skill development on learning, motivation, and behavior.

6. Recognize that expressions of intelligence are not limited to Math, Science, English, and Social Studies. Art, Music, and Physical Education each must be valued as pathways to success that require skill and talent.

7. Focus on building skills for goal setting, problem-solving, planning, and flexibility. An intentional learner will be able to absorb and retain more knowledge.

8. Create learning environments with flexible seating and visual supports and include an intentional mindfulness program and physical activity as part of every day.

9. Bring learning outdoors, figuratively and literally. Experience is the best educator. Help kids see what different careers look like through internships and part-time jobs.

10. Allow time for children to unfold their beauty. Independence should not be the goal. Meet them where they are and guide them without judgment or shaming.