FAQ
How can I help my middle-schooler with ADHD?
- Make sure your AHD child is on the correct medication and receiving therapy.
- Ensure he is receiving the accommodations at middle school that he is entitled to.
- Teach your ADHD child social skills or have a professional teach them.
- Teach your ADHD child organizational skills, provide the necessary gadgets, stationery, files, etc for them to get organized.
- Teach your ADHD child good time-management and provide him with alarm clocks, reminder apps, and other tools for staying on time in middle school.
- In middle school students usually have to go from classroom to classroom. Ask the school if your child can do a “dry run” of changing classrooms before the school year begins.
- Establish a rewards system.
- Use positive parenting to reinforce your child’s positive behavior.
How do you discipline a child with ADHD in the classroom?
Disciplining an ADHD child in the classroom should be to teach not to punish.
Important points to remember are that teachers should blame the behavior, not the child. Any reprimanding should be done in private, not in front of the whole class which would diminish the child’s self-esteem. Set limits and boundaries for acceptable and unacceptable behavior. The consequences of not following those rules should be made clear and agreed upon. The consequences should be instructive not punitive.
What does ADHD look like in the classroom?
ADHD behavior in the classroom takes many forms. An ADHD child may make careless mistakes, be easily distracted, find it hard to follow instructions, be disorganized, and often fail to finish assignments and forget homework. ADHD students may also be fidgety, find it hard to sit still, be impatient, run around, blurt out answers at the wrong time, talk excessively, or interrupt others. Some ADHD students appear to be daydreaming and inattentive.
Do kids with ADHD have behavior problems?
Often kids with ADHD find it hard to control their own behavior. It is common for ADHD kids to find it hard to follow instructions, they can have aggressive behavior and emotional outbursts. Not all ADHD children have behavior problems and many ADHD behavior problems can be managed with correct medication and therapy.
Can a Child with ADHD Behave in School?
Yes, although it can be difficult and challenging. With the right learning environment, the correct medication and therapy, support from the teaching staff, and family your child will be able to behave in school. It is important to remember that “bad” behavior by an ADHD child is usually from their ADHD symptoms and not because the child intends to be disruptive. So treat the symptoms rather than punishing the child for having a disorder.
