Tonight (Aug 31, 2010) ADHD Coach Candace Sahm will be joining us for a special chat on preparing your children for going back to school. Join us for the open chat tonight from 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM - Eastern time. (NOTE: This is the link to the chat!)
As a prelude to the chat, I thought I would start with Ten Tips for Preparing Your Children with ADHD for going back to school:
1. As soon as school begins, look for information on Back to School Night and plan on attending. You will receive information on what to expect in the upcoming school year, get a chance to meet your child's teachers, including teachers for the extra subjects, like art and music, see where your child will be spending every day and meet some of the other parents. This isn't a night to ask specific questions about your child, but to gather information that will help you help your child succeed this year.
2. Plan a meeting with your child's teacher as soon as possible. If your child has ADHD and struggles in school, you probably don't want to wait a few months for the first parent-teacher conference to speak directly to the teacher. Instead, send a note asking for a convenient time to meet within the first week or two of school. This gives you an opportunity to let the teacher know a little bit more about your child and how he or she learns, go over any specifics in either a Section 504 Plan or IEP that the teacher may have questions about and set up a communication schedule between you and the teacher for regular progress reports.
3. Set up a morning routine to help get your child out the door, on time, each morning. Make a list of all the tasks that need to be completed, i.e. eating breakfast, getting dressed, brushing teeth, gathering supplies. Once you have the list completed, break it down into small chunks and set up a schedule so your child is prepared when it is time to walk out the door.
4. Make sure you have a homework area at home. Where does your child normally do homework? Is there somewhere your child will be free from distractions? Do you have it stocked with homework supplies, such as pencils, pens, rulers, paper? If not, take the time to create a "homework area" to help your child focus.
5. Use the kitchen calendar to mark important school functions and events. Using a large kitchen calendar helps everyone in the family know what is going on each day. Mark dates such as the first day of school, Back to School Night, and parent-teacher conferences. Include dates your child has activities, including sports practices and band rehearsals. Get in the habit of having your child mark on days he or she has tests or projects are due.
6. Find a spot at home to keep school items, such as back-packs and lunch boxes. If you have a designated spot, it is easier for both you and your child to find information that is needed. You can check, once homework is completed, if all papers and supplies are back in the back-pack. In the morning, both of you will know exactly where to find everything he or she needs for school.
