ADHD Strategies For Success: Structure For Children
Children with ADHD are often painted as challenging to manage due to the symptoms of ADHD. Their tendencies to move around, fidget, become distracted, and learn differently than others can make it difficult for them to receive the support they deserve. However, ADHD symptoms can often be addressed through a combination of strategies including treatment and ADHD accommodations.
ADHD strategies for success
ADHD strategies to consider may include tapping into multiple intelligences, paying attention to sensory input, working on communication, and utilizing visualization techniques. You could also schedule a session with a therapist in person or online to discuss potential accommodations and support that could be helpful for managing ADHD with your child.
What is ADHD?
ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a common mental health condition characterized by challenges with attention, impulsivity, and sometimes hyperactivity. Those living with ADHD often experience symptoms throughout their lives, although adult ADHD can present differently than how it does in children.
Regardless, speaking with a psychiatrist for medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment can help individuals find personalized recommendations for the best ADHD strategies for their symptoms.
Managing ADHD symptoms: Planning routines, prioritization, and organization
ADHD is common among children and adolescents. According to CHADD, about 129 million children under the age of 18 have been diagnosed with ADHD. About 4.4% of adults may also live with ADHD.
Children living with ADHD usually have a hard time exhibiting self-control, sitting, learning by listening, and doing homework in the same way as peers or friends who don't have this disorder. Many teachers and parents attempt to force kids to stay on task with repetition, rewards, or threats. These generally aren't the best ADHD practices, and they may not help symptoms of ADHD improve.
ADHD strategies for success: Trying different techniques for ADHD
Still, many techniques for ADHD can work well to help children thrive in different social situations. Children may respond differently to alternative ADHD techniques, so it can take a bit of trial and error to find those that work for a child’s specific ADHD experience. Overall, though, doing something differently is often better than doing nothing at all.
Strategically tapping into multiple intelligences
The theory of multiple intelligences was developed by Howard Gardner in 1983. Gardner identified eight types of intelligence, which can be based on children's areas of greatest interest or competence. Gardner's understanding of multiple intelligences which can be used in ADHD strategies included:
Linguistic
Logical-mathematical
Spatial
Bodily-kinesthetic
Musical
Interpersonal
Intrapersonal
Naturalist
Multiple intelligences and managing ADHD
The idea behind multiple intelligences is that children can have many ways of learning in real life. If they have a hard time learning in the traditional social setting – by sitting in a chair and listening – they may be able to learn by singing, using their hands, drawing, doing interviews, or engaging in another activity.
This is all to say that a lack of success in one area doesn’t necessarily point to an overall lack of social functioning or learning ability. Children with ADHD may simply require a different approach when it comes to maximizing their education. This perspective taking as you teach your child in the home and see them through their school years may help you develop solutions to learning-related challenges as they arise.
Minimize distractions and improve focus
Many children with ADHD can be sensitive to sound, touch, smell, taste, and other forms of sensory input. What might seem like a minor annoyance to someone without ADHD can be intensely distracting or even distressing to those with the disorder. Children may throw things, hit themselves or others, cry out, or otherwise react noticeably to sensory input that’s overwhelming, which can be misconstrued as poor behavior or simply being “dramatic.” As a result, keeping friends can become challenging, and further rejection by peers can jeopardize a person’s social skills development or lead to low self-esteem. That may be why it can be so important to learn what your child’s sensory needs are and work to accommodate them where appropriate. Children who struggle with noise, for example, might perform better on exams when allowed to take them in a separate, quiet room.
Working on communication strategies and structure for ADHD
Perhaps one of the biggest challenges related to helping children with ADHD can come from the simple fact that children usually can’t communicate like adults. They may have a hard time expressing their feelings, putting things into words, or controlling their emotions. An adult can express off topic thoughts to co-workers, then gather themselves and apologize for side-tracking the group. Children often haven’t developed the social competence to communicate effectively. These natural parts of childhood, coupled with challenges related to ADHD, can make giving a child the help they need especially difficult.
Expressing feelings with ADHD
It can be beneficial to stress the importance of communication to your child and help them learn practices to do so effectively. Working with a child on the verge of a meltdown who can express the reason behind their frustration – too much loud noise in a room, for example – versus one who can’t, may lead to two very different outcomes.
This might look like teaching your child to check in with themselves (How do I feel right now? What are some of the things that are making me upset?), utilizing a feelings chart or wheel to put words to experiences, and more.
Utilizing visualization strategies
We can process information differently in various parts of the brain. For children with ADHD, it may be easier to process information through the posterior, spatial areas of the brain as opposed to the anterior, linguistic areas of the brain.
Some researchers believe that children who lean more toward inattentive presentations of ADHD tend to draw their thoughts inward rather than act outwardly or vocalize out loud. These children are often quiet in class and may avoid eye contact. They may be the daydreamers and the imaginers. As they're focused on inward thoughts, they may be distractible, forgetful, and disorganized – missing pieces of information or lessons in the classroom.
Self-talk isn't always likely to work for these children, but visualization might. Some children may have an easier time thinking through things when they can form images in their minds based on their daydreams, imaginations, and fantasies.
Parents and teachers may be able to tap into visual learners by helping them visualize the plot of a story, sound out a spelling word, or see the steps of a math problem.
Practicing ADHD-focusing techniques and time management
While not all children with ADHD have a hard time focusing, many find it difficult to pay attention for long periods of time. Practicing techniques that make concentration easier can not only help your child during their time in school but may also set them up for success in the long term.
Some children may be able to train their brains to focus more intensely by practicing focusing techniques, such as tai chi, yoga, meditation, introspection, or reflection. Others might benefit from things like deep breathing techniques. Understanding why your child tends to have a hard time paying attention can be key, too, as different core obstacles may require different solutions.
Finding ways to move
Physical signs of ADHD, like fidgeting, squirming, and running around, commonly manifest in children. Instead of stifling a child’s need to move, it can be helpful to find ways to allow them to channel this energy into something appropriate for the classroom. Fidget toys, for example, can allow children to satiate their desire to move without distracting them from lesson material. In fact, many children find that solutions like these help them focus better without having to constantly battle distractions.
A hands-on learning structure to address impulsive behavior
Hands-on learning can be another of the ADHD practices that take advantage of the opportunity to allow kids to move around while they're learning. Opting to incorporate hands-on activities into a child’s routine where possible can help.
For instance, instead of quietly completing a worksheet, a child with ADHD might fare better by learning how to multiply by manipulating blocks and shapes. Working with your child’s educators, medical professionals, and anyone else who’s involved in overseeing their development to find ways to include these accommodations can be highly beneficial.
Seeking professional advice on living with ADHD
Because ADHD is typically a life-long disorder, the skills learned in childhood can have significant implications for the way an individual with the disorder functions in the future. Whether you’re a parent, educator, or simply someone looking to find ways to better support those with ADHD in your life, getting the insight of a professional can help.
How online therapy can help
One of the most effective ways to receive support may be through online therapy. Because you can speak with a therapist from home, online therapy tends to be far more convenient than many in-person options. Plus, not having to drive to and from an office can help you save time and money.
Improving prioritization, planning routines, and time management
Online therapy may help your child learn social skills and coping strategies to better manage symptoms in a safe setting. More and more research shows that online therapy can improve symptoms related to ADHD in adults and children alike, suggesting that treatment options like these may be effective resources for promoting change. Even if you don’t live with ADHD yourself, working with a professional who’s familiar with the ways it can impact life may give you the information you need to find solutions that truly work for your child.
Takeaway
ADHD can make school, work, and personal life challenging, especially for children. But by understanding how ADHD can impact our ability to work, think, and feel, we can find ways to incorporate ADHD-related needs into daily life. For instance, it may be helpful to allow for hands-on learning, find ways for your child to move, and practice focusing techniques. A licensed professional may be one of many role models who can help your child manage ADHD symptoms now and well into the future.
What is the best way to cope with ADHD?
There’s no one way to manage symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) that will work best for everyone, especially since each person may experience different symptoms with different levels of severity. Along the way, maintaining healthy habits like sleeping enough, exercising regularly, and eating nutritious foods can help, as can meeting with mental health professionals like a therapist or behavioral specialist.
How does ADHD affect focus, learning and organization?
People with ADHD may need different accommodations than other students in order to learn at their best. That’s because this form of neurodivergence can affect one’s ability to pay attention, take in details, stay on task, and keep organized when studying and learning.
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