Here are 10 essential steps to improve the care, support, and outcomes for children with ADHD.
1. Understand the Social/Emotional impact of ADHD on learning, motivation, behavior, and the family system.
2. Create a uniform, comprehensive diagnostic procedure for assessing ADHD, including full family history, medical assessment for allergies and sensitivities, cognitive assessment, and observation in multiple settings.
3. Provide each parent with comprehensive education about ADHD and parent coaching to support active learning, motivation, and behavior.
4. Include a trained ADHD specialist in educational settings along with the learning specialist, speech pathologist, occupational therapist, etc., when creating the circle of support.
5. Educate all teachers about the full impact of ADHD and Executive Function skill development on learning, motivation, and behavior.
6. Recognize that expressions of intelligence are not limited to Math, Science, English, and Social Studies. Art, Music, and Physical Education each must be valued as pathways to success that require skill and talent.
7. Focus on building skills for goal setting, problem-solving, planning, and flexibility. An intentional learner will be able to absorb and retain more knowledge.
8. Create learning environments with flexible seating and visual supports and include an intentional mindfulness program and physical activity as part of every day.
9. Bring learning outdoors, figuratively and literally. Experience is the best educator. Help kids see what different careers look like through internships and part-time jobs.
10. Allow time for children to unfold their beauty. Independence should not be the goal. Meet them where they are and guide them without judgment or shaming.
Have you written anything about how to help parents bring include an intentional mindfulness program as part of every day?
I am an avid mindfulness practitioner and try to role model it for my family but they are also least interested in learning from me. What do you recommend for tweens?
Thank you!
Hi Jamie,
I agree, mindfulness is so valuable – for everyone. And it’s not always easy to have our kids learn these valuable lessons from us once they becomes tweens and teens! This is why when I do professional development I always encourage teachers and related service providers to teach the kids. This is a book I would recommend on mindfulness: Mindfulness and Self-Compassion for Teen ADHD: Build Executive Functioning Skills, Increase Motivation, and Improve Self-Confidence