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Many children have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder and struggle each year to make passing grades, let alone excel in school. With the use of medications, we sometimes forget the many other methods available to help them make the most of their educational experience! Things such as organization, scheduling, and encouragement can make worlds of difference in the A.D.D. child’s success rate.
One of the most critical factors to remember is Organization! Without structure and some sense of “a place for everything, and everything in its place”, the A.D.D. child will not have the necessary foundation on which to build their success. There are several ways that you can help your child. You have all summer to collect your thoughts, brainstorm and create a plan of action for the upcoming school year.
First, schools provide a list of needed school supplies. Use this as a great way to spend some needed quality time with your A.D.D. child. Take them on a “back-to-school” shopping spree, and allow them help in selecting their supplies. This provides a sense of purpose by having to follow a list, and also demonstrates the need for responsibility in caring for their new supplies.
Most A.D.D. children have a very difficult time keeping their rooms and study spaces clean and organized. There is a difference between organized clutter and an all out disaster area. If your child’s room falls into the second category, schedule a special day of cleaning and reorganizing their space. Break a day or evening into workable segments and include breaks for play time. Sort through toys, clothes, books, and whatever else they may have packed away to rid the room of clutter. Make sure to include them in the sorting, and organizing so that they can learn how to keep the room orderly and accessible.
Once the room is sparkling new again (at least for a day!), you can map out an area for study and homework. It’s important to know what surroundings work best for your A.D.D. child’s learning/study habits. Determine where they like to sit (floor, bed, desk), and whether or not they work better with some sort of noise in the background or in an area with a good amount of silence. Once you know their preferences, you can then create an ideal study area. It might be in their room, or it might not, but either way, the knowledge that they have their own special place to study will give them a sense of security and a feeling of confidence.
Another important aspect in helping your A.D.D. child succeed is with scheduling. At school, they work in a structured environment pn a regular basis. To keep them on track and their foundation strong, their life at home needs to be structured as well. There are many ways to accomplish this. One way is to prepare a chart of daily activities that must be completed. It gives them tremendous self-confidence to be able to complete their list each day. There are several ways to make a chart: by using an erasable board, or making a poster, or by using a chart template on a computer program. You can include the basic daily functions such as brushing teeth, feeding the pets, and also specific activities like ball practice or dance class. Once they complete an activity, check it off, and by verbal praise or even a sticker system, they can see that they are making progress.
Finally, and most importantly, your A.D.D. child’s success in school depends highly on praise and encouragement from you, as parents, family members, and teachers. Lack of self-esteem is a difficult hurdle for these children, and they need all the love and support that you and others can give. Without praise for their accomplishments, their self worth begins to fade, and along with that so will their educational success rate.
By employing some organizational and scheduling tactics, and by using lots of love and encouragement, you can help your A.D.D. child overcome their weaker traits and build a solid foundation for their success in school!
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