Let us face it.
School is not an easy place to be when you have ADHD.
Lots of parents worry about the ADHD behavior issues and learning problems there, as well as in the home when they get back and have to complete their homework.
That is certainly borne out in a small survey conducted by The Center for ADHD Awareness Canada (CADDAC).
Their results show that: • almost 90% of parents of kids with ADHD found homework time to be stressful • almost 80% are worried about the return to school • a similar number are anxious that the teacher will not understand their kid's needs.
It seems that most ADHD attention problems are more evident when they have to make the transition between one type of school and another, for example from primary to secondary.
Kids with ADHD are great at multi-tasking and that is fine but moving into the world of work, this may be a problem.
It is ironic that multi-tasking is even praised until the moment when the deadline looms.
Then it is considered a defect! But what are the ADHD behaviour issues that parents are faced with when their kids gets home from school and have to start their homework? Let us have a look at some of the problems that they face as they sit down: • their attention span is short, very short! • their brains are all over the place so that they have to compete with a thousand elements demanding their attention.
• their filter systems which we take so much for granted do not work in the same way as ours do • impulsivity and hyperactivity add to the rather depressing list.
• time management and planning skills need to be nurtured and taught.
• remembering a list of verbal commands presents an enormous challenge.
Here are some of the solutions that can help with the ADHD behavior issues at home and at school: • a set routine is crucial as well as reassuring.
• breaking instructions and tasks down • giving instructions one by one.
Check that they have understood by repeating them back to you.
• build in short frequent breaks • get a squeeze ball or stability ball so that fidgeting can take place without interfering too much with the homework activity.
Experts now say that the effort to sit still is too much for people with ADHD and a secondary movement such as fidgeting will actually help with inattentiveness.
• using a set of post its and reminders.
This is also useful for chores and behavioral problems as well.
But it is just not homework that has to be dealt with.
There are also other ADHD behavior issues which will arise so that parents will need to learn effective parenting skills or behavior therapy as it is sometimes called.
Parents will learn how to: • build an affectionate and positive relationship with their kids • set up routines and structures for all areas of home life • be consistent and not allow 'good cop, bad cop parenting' by agreeing with their spouse what is allowed and what is not.
• establish rewards and praise for good behavior as well as consequences for unacceptable behavior These are jut some of the main points that you can learn in a really good program written by a consultant child psychologist who has used his vast experience to produce an easy to follow manual.
Why not check this out as this is probably what you need now.