Summer is Here: How do I Keep my Child with ADHD Busy?

We all desperately wait for summer to come. However, I often hear worry and concern in parents’ voices, in terms of how to keep their child busy and productive during the long summer days.

Remember that structure is the most important word to remember and follow when managing children and adolescents with ADHD. Structure is especially important during the summer, when loose, relaxed time could be empty time. Yes, it is important to enjoy some time hanging out, but even that type of time should be structured.

The following should be included in each and every day of the child with ADHD’s summer: (Each of these decisions must be decided upon collaboratively with your child, so that they feel that their input is important, as it should be)

Reading: Decide which books to read as well as how many pages to read each day.

Computer time: Decide on your child spending no more than one hour at a time on the computer. Make sure to designate exactly which hours he will spend on the computer.

Video games: Decide on your child spending no more than one hour playing video games. Make sure to designate exactly which hours he will spend playing video games.

Exercise: Depending on the age of the child, each and every one of them should exercise each day. Children under seven should work up to exercising approximately 10 minutes a day, children from eight to 10 should work up to exercising 15 minutes a day, etc. Remember that definitive research has found that exercise helps to diminish hyperactivity and helps children with ADHD to focus. Therefore, it would help your child to focus better and decrease his hyperactivity, if he exercised for a short time, two times a day.

Playing outside with other children:  This is as old-fashioned as it gets.  However, it is so important, in terms of increasing the child with ADHD’s social interaction, as well as being involved in creative, imaginative play.

Chores: Designate a few chores that your child must do each day. Collaboratively, design a checklist, so that he will feel ownership of his completion of his chores, which will add to his self-esteem. Children with ADHD need to learn how to become responsible and accountable and doing a chore each day will teach him those qualities.