School transition ADHD.
– 3 minutes read –
ADHD kids tend to have difficulty with transitions – transitions between activities, transitions between classes, and transitions from sleep mode to wake-up mode…etc.
So you may already have started thinking about the school transition, which is just a couple of weeks away.
If you haven’t started small preparations to make that school transition smoother yet, please keep reading!
Below is a list of 4 things you can do in order to help your ADHD kid transition back to (or start) school a bit smoother!
- Prepare School Supplies Together
You must have new school supplies that need your kid’s name on. If so, prepare them with your kids! I know it takes more time to put name stickers or write names on items with kids… But this step could help them anticipate what’s coming soon.
You can also discover what kind of thoughts your kids may be having – excited, anxious, worried, nervous… and you can talk about it with them to ease any worries or share the excitement!
- Gradual Adjustment of Sleep Schedule
Now is the time to begin adjusting your child’s sleep schedule, a few weeks before school starts to match the school routine. Also, it’s a good idea to Establish a calming bedtime routine to help your child wind down and prepare for sleep.
- Create a Visual Schedule
It is a must to use a visual schedule for ADHD kids so that they can learn daily routines independently. Since they have a hard time doing “boring” tasks, it’s a great idea to incorporate small rewards for each segment (AM&PM) along with daily routines. Let your child help in creating the schedule to give them a sense of control and understanding of what to expect.
- Set Up a Homework Station
Create a specific area in your home for homework and study that is free from distractions. During vacation, you can start doing some crafts, a workbook of previous grade, coloring…etc something your kid can do at the same table so that he gets used to sitting and doing something in that area.
Lastly, don’t forget to take enough rest for YOURSELF as a parent so that you can keep extra energy to keep up with your energetic child during this transition!
When it goes in a direction where he cannot control himself, you can control YOUR PATIENCE when you have enough rest.
I know it’s not easy… but knowing that it’s coming and getting ourselves more equipped with those 4 tips above can change the transition between vacation and school.
Good luck!