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ADHD Kids Can Have A Great Summer With A Little
Planning Ahead
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Summer is that time every kid looks forward to.
It is the "light at end of the tunnel" of a long school year. It is a time to
"let loose" and have a great time. But for kids with ADHD this is a big change,
and not always a positive one. The day-to-day structure goes away, the daily
routine is gone. In just a few days or weeks, this long-anticipated break can
become a potential nightmare for ADHD kids and their parents. Because fairly
soon, these kids are going around whining and saying, "I'm bored." They come in
complaining about an argument with peers or they make a game of tormenting their
siblings.
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Luckily, with a little planning ahead, these and
many other events can be avoided. Kids with ADHD still need structure, although
it can be more relaxed than during the school year. A good tip is to use a
calendar that shows upcoming activities. Make a collage of things they can do
when there is no planned activity (like games, toys, books, etc) and tell them
when they are bored they need to check it and select an activity and do it.
Plan intermittent structured activities such as day camp, vacation Bible school,
various recreation programs (like tennis lessons, swimming lessons, a computer
workshop, a children's theater group or a summer sports leagues) provided by
schools, churches, and community recreation departments.
Think about summer camp. If you decide this is a good idea, make sure the camp
can handle ADHD kids and are willing to administer medications if your child
takes them during the summer. Check out the list of Summer Camp Programs from
CHADD. These camps are specialized for kids with ADHD and provide structure, fun
and skill-building. For other possible camp suggestions, please visit the
American Camp Association website.
Regardless of whether you send your child to camp or not during summer vacation,
make sure you plan for family fun time. When parents get home from work, devote
a half hour or so to play time. Play around your home; go to a park or some
other fun spot. Have a family game night or movie night. Enjoy a hobby together.
You can check out the Family Activities page from my ADHD website for more
suggestions.
No matter what the situation, you can make it enjoyable and productive for your
ADHD child by thinking ahead and providing a little guidance and structure to
curb impulsivity and teach them how to create their own fun time.
By Dr. Robert Myers, Child Psychologist
*If
you need some extra help and support managing ADHD this summer, check out the
Total Focus Parenting Program.
This program is so effective because it's developed by a child psychologist, Dr.
Robert Myers, who is also the parent of a child with ADHD. He will give you
step-by-step guidelines to work with your child more effectively to improve
behavior at home and school. If you are interested in a free trial, you
can
click here,
click the purple links above or below, or click the banner on the right side of
this page!
Dr Robert Myers is a child psychologist with over
25 years of experience working with children and adolescents with Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and learning disabilities and is the creator of
the Total Focus Program
(Program
for ADD/ADHD Kids
Easy 1-2-3 instructions for helping ADD/ADHD kids
www.trytotalfocus.com.) Dr Myers is
Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at UC Irvine
School of Medicine. "Dr Bob" has provided practical information for parents as a
radio talk show host and as editor of Child Development Institute's website,
4parenting.com which reaches 3 million parents each year. Dr. Myers earned his
Ph.D. from the University of Southern California.
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