ADD/ADHD Tips for the Summer Time
In this article, you will learn 11 tips for parents of kids and teens with ADD/ADHD to have a smooth and enjoyable summer.
The summer is ideally a time for relaxing, recharging batteries, and building on relationships. These tips will help you to make the summer go well, and improve your relationship with your child.
If you like to learn by listening, you can listen to me discuss these tips on a talk radio show about ADHD in the summer.
1. Create and stick to a summer routine as much as possible
It is important to have a routine even during the summer. While it may not be as consistent as during the school year, children with ADHD need the structure of routine.
2. Prepare your child for changes in their routine
Talk to your child about upcoming changes in their routine and remind them of any upcoming events frequently. Plan your child’s schedule with them and post it where he/she can see it.
3. Summer holidays don’t have to be a drug holiday
ADHD is a challenging year-round condition, not a seasonal problem to be dealt with only during the school year. While many parents consider ADHD medication to be important for academics, it is important to remember that ADHD also affects social interactions, emotional development and psychological development. The summer is a time when children have an opportunity to improvethese areas, but ADHD symptoms can interfere with that.
4. Get your child involved in activities
Talk with your child about their interests, like scouts, art or sports. Locate programs in your area offering an activity your child will enjoy so they will stick with it and build strengths they are interested in.
5. Develop a list of expectations and post them in a central location
Clear and consistent communication about your expectations is key. Develop a list of expectations for the various activities your child will be participating in and be sure to reward your child for appropriate behaviour.
6. Be consistent with consequences for inappropriate behavior
Develop a list of consequences for inappropriate behavior and make them very clear. Be consistent in enforcing them, even though you may feel more lax about enforcing them in the summer. Stick to it!
7. Talk to summertime caregivers about your child’s ADHD
It is important for coaches, camp counselors, and other summer caregivers to know what they can and can’t expect from your child. Parents can download a form on adhd.ca that can be filled out and given to people who will be supervising their child.
8. Develop a travel plan if you will be taking your child on vacation
Involve your child in planning the vacation and ask for their input when making decisions and planning activities. For long plane rides and car trips, be sure to pack fun things to do to keep your child occupied.
9. Focus on social skills
Social skills are often a challenge for children with ADHD. Promote participation in structured and unstructured activities like camp and informal get-togethers.
10. Recognize every accomplishment, no matter how small
Remember that transitioning from school to summer holidays can be challenging for children, especially for those who have ADHD. Be sure to celebrate your child’s successes.
11. Remember to have fun!
Often parents of kids with ADHD have so much to deal with to help their child, especially during the school year, that it can be hard to just ‘let go’ with your child and have fun. Make sure to take some time in the summer and just enjoy spending time with your child. Enjoy his or her strengths, and create great memories that will last a lifetime. Do something spontaneous and out of the ordinary. Build your relationship with your child by just enjoying each other!
I hope these help you to have a great summer!
Dr. Kenny
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Written by Dr. Kenny Handelman - The ADHD Doctor
To find get a FREE special report on ADD/ADHD Medication, visit: Medication Mastery
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July 14th, 2007 at 9:41 am
Thanks for the tips! I just wrote about the challenges of dealing with ADHD and a learning disability during the summer months. Do you recommend kids continue to work on skills over summer (like math in my son’s case) when they have a LD in this area? If so, how do you approach it?
July 21st, 2007 at 8:16 pm
Hi Ally,
This is a great question.
When it comes to the idea of doing extra work in the summer - parents have to balance the ‘risks and the benefits’.
On the benefit side - it can help your child to maintain the progress they have made during the school year, and also lead to academic progress.
On the risk side - your child may be sick of doing school work, and need a well deserved break. This break is important to your child, but also to you.
So, I suggest thinking about this carefully.
When it comes to how to approach doing school work with your child - be sure to have lots of praise, and lots of rewards. Do your best to avoid battles over homework especially during the summer.
I hope this helps.
Dr. Kenny
May 5th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Now days, there are lots of schools which organize summer camps. It also helps them learning new things as well as they enjoy their vacations too.
May 12th, 2008 at 6:51 am
Just let your kids have fun, they will later be grateful. I talk from experience.
May 12th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
My son has ADD and the local YMCA soccer and tennis has helped kept him busy in the summer. We also love to hit the public water park at least once a week and this keeps him worn out after 2 hours.
May 15th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
I agree with Bob. Kids has to be kids and play around. Later on in life they will be greatful as i am to my parents now.
/John
May 19th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
@ Bob
Yes, leave kids to be themselves. Just because they have ADD doesn’t mean you should be treating them too differently.
May 28th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
It can be a huge challenge to have a child with add and very often the parents just believe they have naughty children. Its so sad in this day and age that such things still cant be spotted from a mile away and the parents given support and advice. It always astonishes me that these things are a relatively recent discovery.
June 23rd, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Dr. Hendelman, why do you think some say that ADD and ADHD don’t really exist and its just a new disease that doctors just thought of?