For many children with ADHD, school is a struggle. Read this post for tips and tricks caregivers can implement to help their children with ADHD do better at school.
School is often hard for kids with ADHD because they are expected to stay in their seats all day.
It’s hard for them to make friends because they are often delayed in their social skills.
And it’s hard for them to follow instructions ALL DAY LONG.
I think all of us can relate to this struggle, right?
The typical school setting is just not ideal for kids with ADHD. Plain and simple.
My son has ADHD, and for years school was a problem. I dreaded August and September because with it came new back to school fears.
Would his teacher be understanding of his special needs? Would he make friends? Would he be in trouble all the time? Would I get calls from the school because of his bad behavior?
Many parents of kids with ADHD can relate to these worries.
That’s why I wanted to share some of my best tips and tricks for back to school with ADHD.
My son doesn’t struggle at school anymore. Neither do the children of close to 1000 other families I have worked with.
I’m thinking in particular about Deborah.
Deborah was a mom of multiple children with ADHD and other similar disorders. Before joining my program, her son had over 36 school suspensions one year.
Deborah told me not too long ago that her son hasn’t been suspended at all since she worked with us to reduce the inflammation in his body. He is now THRIVING and even getting awards at school for GOOD behavior.
4 Tips to Help Kids with ADHD Thrive at School:
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Talk to the teacher, school counselor, and any other staff necessary at the beginning of the school year.
See what accommodations are available.
If your child has an IEP (individualized education plan) or a 504, there are accommodations that are required by law for your child to receive to help them get the education they need.
Now, in order to obtain a 504 or an IEP, a diagnosis is often necessary. So I always tell parents, it’s a personal choice on whether or not to pursue that diagnosis. But just know that it is often necessary to have that diagnosis if you are seeking a 504 or IEP.
Many teachers are willing to work with parents even if there isn’t an official 504 or IEP in place, though.
So don’t be afraid to talk with the teacher, let them know what your child needs, and work with them to create a plan that will best help your child succeed.
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Consider fidgets or alternate seating.
Many children with ADHD are much better able to focus if they are allowed to sit in a wiggle seat or other similar alternate seating arrangement.
Likewise, fidgets can be very effective at helping children with ADHD. Their hands are busy, and this allows their brains to focus on what the teacher is saying.
Sometimes, teachers are also able to place the child’s desk in close proximity to the teacher.
This can often help children with ADHD because there are fewer things to distract them when they are closer to the teacher than if they were all the way across the room.
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Work with them to build social skills.
Children with ADHD are often lagging in social skills. Use play to teach social skills to them on a regular basis.
Practice turn-taking, listening, showing interest in what other people are saying, being a good sport, etc.
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Work to reduce inflammation in the body.
This might sound like it has nothing to do with school behavior, but there is a huge connection between gut health and brain health.
So if you improve the gut health, you also improve the brain health.
When the inflammation is reduced, it becomes much easier for a child to focus, make better choices, and regulate their emotions.
To reduce the inflammation, start by getting rid of the most common inflammatory foods, which are gluten, dairy, and soy.
Replace these foods with whole, micronutrient dense foods like whole fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, and grass-fed protein sources.
Then, over time, as the inflammatory foods stay out of the diet completely, and these whole foods stay in the diet, most children see significant improvement in their behavior at school.
Their emotions are more regulated, their focus is better, and they are less likely to struggle with impulsivity and hyperactivity.
I’d be happy to talk more about any of these strategies so don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.
I know this is a BIG topic and can be overwhelming when parents are just starting out so I wanted to let you know that I opened up extra time in my schedule to talk with families who want to learn more about how to reduce this inflammation in their child’s body.
You can book a free call with my team at this link –
Give these tips a try, and let me know how it goes!
P.S. I ran across a couple of really good articles in ADDitude magazine that were full of suggestions on things to do to help with school behavior and wanted to share these as well.
Check them out at the links below:
Impulse Control Strategies for Kids with ADHD
Everything You Need to Know About Behavior Intervention Plans
Want to know more about how we can help YOU get to a place of peace and calm with your child using natural strategies?
Let’s talk!
with one of my expert team members to help you take your next step toward a healthier, happier home. There is absolutely NO RISK. It’s free, and there are no obligations. All we will do is chat about how we can help you get to where you want to go!
Alternatively, for more details about how you can help reduce your child’s ADHD symptoms, sign up for my today
And as always, I am not a medical doctor and the above post is based on my experience. No information on this site should be relied upon to make a medical diagnosis, treat, prevent or cure any disease or medical condition.
