What is the reason to think ahead of time concerning how your child should start the school year? Here is the reason: During the summer, your child has probably functioned with a less rigid schedule than he does in the school year, i.e., staying up later, remaining in his pajamas later in the morning, as well as being involved in activities that are unrelated to school work, such as playing video games, etc.
When he begins school, he will follow a more academic schedule that incorporates doing his homework, as well as a sprinkling of extracurricular activities. Therefore, due to the academic responsibilities that will characterize each of his days, it would be a much easier transition for him if you and he discussed what those responsibilities will be, in addition to the best time to complete them. Clearly, deciding the best time for him to complete his homework, papers and projects is dependent upon the quality of his ability to concentrate at various times of the afternoon and evening.
What happens when children with ADHD start school? The first day of school is typically fun for everyone. Oftentimes, when children with ADHD see the amount of academic work that is required of them, however, they arguably become less excited about school. Even if they have the most understanding teacher in the world, doing academic work is arguably more tedious and difficult to complete in a timely manner for children with ADHD than for children who do not have ADHD.
There is a transition that he must make between his summer schedule and his attitude in the summer as compared to his school year schedule and his attitude during the school year. So…here are a few things to do before your child starts school that will hopefully help him to have a more positive attitude about his school work because he is organized ahead of time:
1. Talk to your child regarding the best time in the day for him to do his homework, and explain to him that once that decision has been agreed upon, the time will remain the same everyday of the week. Also, agree with him in relation to a consistent time for him to do his homework on the weekend. Tell him that after one month, you and he will discuss the time that was agreed upon, and may revise it at that time.
2. Make a schedule with your child as to what he will do each half hour after he arrives home from school, incorporating when he will do his homework, the time of his extracurricular activities, the time to relax, the time that you will have dinner, as well as the time that he will shower, pick out his clothes for the next day and go to bed, etc. If what he will be doing in each half-hour is an expectation, then there is no room for any arguments between the two of you. (I am working on an example of a schedule as we speak.)
3. Go through his clothing with him in order to determine which clothes he does not like, and take them out of his drawer for now. He is more likely to pick out his own clothes and get dressed quickly in the morning if he likes what he is picking out.
More tomorrow……..
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