Learning Skills Taught At Home for ADHD Children

​Children who have cognitive and/or behavior problems need their parents to be their learning partners. Attention Deficit Disorde​r/Hyperactive children can better confront the difficult learning issues they will face in a preschool environment when they have parents who are allies and understand how their ADHD child learns.

Too often, children with special needs are labeled; parents and teachers are blamed and systems become rigid and inhumane. Below are a few helpful hints parents should consider when trying to understand their child's learning style and provide proper supports for his or her special needs.

Don't be passive participants.

Some parents take a backseat when it comes to advocating for their child's needs. It is likely that 80 percent of any good intervention will be initiated by parents of a special needs child.

Remember that being an advocate doesn't mean fighting with teachers. Instead, parents who are their child's learning partners create educational networks. They find out how teachers, support staff or principals work with special needs children in school and connect with them.

Bullies are bad.

Kids with special needs have enough problems without feeling threatened, embarrassed or ostracized by their peers. All involved adults should swiftly deal with all acts of bullying or negative peer pressure. Remediation could come in the form of peer problem-solving, the use of teaching consequences and constant monitoring by all adults. If this is not done, take whatever action is necessary to get the problem taken care of.
"Kids will be kids" is not an answer.

Elicit educational mentors.

To have a good teacher for one or two hours is one thing. To have a teacher that cares and communicates your needs to others is an educational mentor.

Foster follow-through.

Often the lines of communication fail, especially at the follow-up stage of interventions. Make sure everyone is held accountable, including you and your child.

Make the system fit the child.

It would be easy if all children were alike, but that is just not the case. Each child is unique and needs unique educational supports. Some teachers may say that a certain treatment would not be fair to other children, but fairness is not the issue. Schools are made for children, not children for schools.

Teacher-talks are a must.

Don't wait for things to go wrong at your child's preschool, day-care or kindergarten before you initiate conversations with teachers. Check in with your child's teacher on a daily or bi-weekly basis. Thank the teacher by sending special thank you notes, cards, emails or gifts that don't cost much, as reminders of how important he or she is to you and your child.

For more information on this topic, check out Great Days Ahead: Parenting Children Who Have ADHD with Hope and Confidence.